Sen. Liz Miranda

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to establish a new state system called the Massachusetts Health Care Trust to provide universal health coverage to all residents of the Commonwealth. It creates a new chapter in state law that defines key terms, such as "resident," to explicitly include homeless, incarcerated, and undocumented individuals living in Massachusetts. The legislation declares that access to quality health care is a right for all residents and aims to eliminate out-of-pocket costs like co-payments, deductibles, and co-insurance. By setting up a dedicated trust fund and board of trustees, the bill outlines the structural framework needed to finance and administer this comprehensive health care program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to increase funding for human services organizations to close the pay gap between these workers and comparable state employees. The law mandates that the reimbursement gap be reduced by 50% by July 2024, 30% by July 2025, 10% by July 2026, and fully eliminated by July 2027. All additional funds received must be used to raise the salaries of the workers who provide care and support services. The legislation also directs relevant agencies to create a report on improving recruitment and retention for these employees by January 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public housing authorities in Massachusetts to provide free broadband internet access to all residents as a condition for a dwelling to be considered decent, safe, and sanitary. It achieves this by amending state housing laws to mandate no-charge internet and explicitly excluding broadband from being classified as a utility for regulatory purposes. The legislation also directs the Department of Public Health to study the relationship between internet access and public health outcomes, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by lack of connectivity. To support this initiative, the bill authorizes the General Court to appropriate funds for subsidizing the implementation and maintenance of these internet services.

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Liz Miranda and Estela A. Reyes for legislation to further regulate professional and occupational licensing. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to remove specific language targeting "common night walkers" and "common street walkers" and repeals a section of the penal code related to these terms. It also adds a new provision stating that individuals who report crimes in good faith will not face charges for possession of controlled substances or sex for money if the evidence against them was obtained as a result of their report. The legislation directly affects transgender people and low-income women who are frequently subjected to policing for these specific activities. By removing the legal basis for targeting these groups and offering immunity to crime reporters, the bill aims to reduce discriminatory enforcement practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state laws to explicitly include "criminal history" alongside race, sex, and other protected categories in anti-discrimination statutes. By making this change, the legislation aims to protect individuals with criminal records from being discriminated against in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The bill defines criminal history to include records of arrests, charges, and sentencing, while excluding fingerprint data that does not indicate criminal involvement. These legal updates would require landlords, employers, and other covered entities to treat people with criminal histories similarly to how they treat people based on their race or gender.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce the number of people serving life sentences in Massachusetts by changing how long they must wait before becoming eligible for parole. It specifically allows prisoners serving multiple life sentences for separate crimes to apply for parole after 25 years from the start of their most recent sentence, rather than remaining incarcerated indefinitely. Additionally, the law sets new minimum time requirements for first-degree murder convictions, requiring at least 25 years in prison for adult offenders, while setting lower minimums for juvenile offenders depending on their age at the time of the crime. These changes apply to both current and future cases, meaning they affect individuals already serving these sentences as well as those convicted after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new project within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to prevent human trafficking and improve the safety and health of sex workers. It requires the department to create a strategic plan that offers resources like housing, healthcare, legal aid, and cash assistance, while also setting up a public system for reporting abuse. The legislation defines "sex worker" as someone who provides sexual acts in exchange for value and mandates that the safety plan be developed in collaboration with sex workers and advocacy groups. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency committee to study the decriminalization of sex work and includes minor amendments to existing disorderly conduct laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to guarantee that anyone in police custody or under police control who has a serious medical need must receive emergency medical services. It defines specific terms like "emergency medical condition" and "medically unstable" to ensure officers can identify when help is needed. The law requires law enforcement officers to immediately call for medical assistance if a person they are handling tells them they are sick or if the officer reasonably believes the person's health is at risk. This policy change directly affects all law enforcement agencies and officers in the state by mandating immediate medical intervention for individuals with urgent health issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts in Massachusetts from using a parent's disability as a negative factor when deciding child custody or parenting time. It directly affects adults with disabilities involved in family and juvenile court proceedings by ensuring their disabilities are not automatically viewed as harmful to their children. The law requires that any decision against a parent based on their disability must be supported by specific evidence showing a direct link between the disability and harm to the child that cannot be fixed with accommodations. Courts must also document in writing why they believe a disability causes harm and whether services like adaptive equipment or interpreters could resolve the issue. Additionally, the bill defines key terms such as "disability" and "supportive parenting services" to guide judges in applying these protections fairly.