By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 882) of Jason M. Lewis, Joanne M. Comerford and James B. Eldridge for legislation to require MassHealth to make Graduate Medical Education payments. Health Care Financing.
By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1541) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation relative to public school athletic trainers. Public Health.
By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 197) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Rebecca L. Rausch, Michael O. Moore, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for legislation to protect reproductive health access, LGBTQ lives, religious liberty, and freedom of movement by banning the sale of cell phone location information. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2453) of John F. Keenan and David F. DeCoste (by vote of the town) exempt all uniformed positions in the fire department in the town of Rockland from the civil service law. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state laws to replace outdated terms like "handicapped" and "mentally retarded" with modern, person-first language such as "individuals with disabilities" and "intellectual or developmental disabilities." The legislation directly affects various statutes within Chapter 6 of the General Laws, which cover areas including employment, veterans' benefits, and general disability protections. By systematically changing these specific words throughout the legal code, the bill ensures that official state documents use respectful and current terminology when referring to people with disabilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new chapter in Massachusetts law to promote community immunity by requiring specific groups, including schools, child care centers, camps, and colleges, to enforce immunization schedules for participants. It mandates that enrollment in these programs be contingent upon proof of vaccination, a valid medical or religious exemption issued by the Department of Public Health, or evidence of a good faith effort to get vaccinated. The legislation explicitly allows private programs to adopt stricter rules but prohibits them from refusing medical exemptions, while also updating the state's administrative code to include the enforcement of these new requirements.
By Representative Cahill of Lynn and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Daniel Cahill and Joan B. Lovely for legislation to further regulate insurance claims. Financial Services.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care employers in Massachusetts to create and enforce programs aimed at preventing workplace violence. To achieve this, facilities must conduct annual risk assessments in cooperation with employees and labor unions to identify specific dangers, such as working in public areas or guarding property. The legislation defines workplace violence to include unpermitted touching, attempts to use physical force, or threatening behavior that causes fear of future harm. These measures apply to a wide range of settings, including hospitals and state correctional facilities, while explicitly excluding certain outpatient services like clinics and dialysis centers.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to allow rideshare drivers to form organizations and negotiate with companies to improve industry-wide working conditions. It aims to address issues like pay, health coverage, and scheduling by enabling collective bargaining between drivers and digital transportation platforms. The legislation authorizes the state to oversee these negotiations and approve recommendations that raise standards for workers in the digital marketplace.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes collective bargaining rights for drivers working in Massachusetts' transportation network industry, such as rideshare and ride-hailing services. It allows these drivers to form organizations and negotiate industry-wide recommendations with companies regarding work standards, pay, and benefits. The legislation creates a new chapter in state law that exempts these negotiations from federal and state antitrust laws and sets up a process where the Secretary of Labor reviews and can make these negotiated terms binding. Additionally, the bill permits rideshare companies to form multi-company associations to represent them during these negotiations.
