Sen. Lydia Edwards

By Representative Livingstone of Boston and Senator Edwards, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Jay D. Livingstone and Lydia Edwards relative to designating the Greatest Neighborhood Park, in the West End neighborhood of the city of Boston, as the Jim Campano park. Transportation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women against the use of physical restraints. It clarifies that "postpartum recovery" lasts for at least six weeks or longer if a doctor decides, and expands the definition of medical professionals who can authorize restraints to include emergency medical personnel. The legislation requires correctional facility staff to undergo annual training on these rules and mandates that any use of restraints on these women be reported within 48 hours with specific details. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the state to publish an annual report detailing compliance with these restraint restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts law enforcement and correctional officers to complete new training on interacting with individuals on the autism spectrum and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The training, which must be established by municipal police training committees by January 1, 2024, focuses on de-escalating situations and providing positive responses without adding to existing mandatory training hours. It also mandates the creation of specific guidelines for how officers should handle interactions with these individuals who are victims, witnesses, or suspects in criminal matters. The legislation applies to a wide range of agencies, including city and town police, state police, university police, and correctional facility officers.

By Representative Fluker Oakley of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2326) of Brandy Fluker Oakley and others relative to successful transitions and re-entries for incarcerated persons. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

April 22, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 240) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to mental health education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 247) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Susannah M. Whipps for legislation relative to remodel public school athletics through social-emotional learning; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 248) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Vanna Howard for legislation to promote social-emotional learning; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 276) of Barry R. Finegold and Vanna Howard for legislation relative to safety and violence education for students (the SAVE Students Act); (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 333) of Jacob R. Oliveira and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 342) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation relative to substance use education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 346) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Lydia Edwards and James B. Eldridge for legislation to ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 350) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to physical and social recess in schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2741).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to commission a university or nonprofit organization to create a biennial report analyzing crime gun data. The report will examine statistics on firearms crimes, arrests, and the effectiveness of current gun regulations and reporting mechanisms. It will also analyze patterns in how guns used in crimes were purchased, including whether they came from licensed dealers or private sellers and how often the same buyer is linked to multiple firearms. All data included in the report must be presented in an aggregate format that does not identify specific individuals. The final report will be sent to state legislative leaders and public safety committee chairs by March of every even-numbered year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to require new single-family and two-family homes to be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems. If a municipality chooses to adopt this rule, it would apply to any new residential building with a permit issued one year after the town accepts the law, but it does not mandate sprinklers for existing homes. The local fire department head would be responsible for enforcing these requirements, and property owners could appeal decisions regarding the installation to a local board of appeals. Additionally, the bill clarifies that seasonal shut-offs of these sprinkler systems, when approved by the state fire prevention board, will not be considered a violation of fire safety codes.

March 14, 2024 -- The committee on Public Health, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1388) of John F. Keenan, Lydia Edwards, John C. Velis, Kay Khan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to recovery coach licensure, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2681).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts labor laws to extend the mandatory negotiation period for public employees from an unspecified reasonable time to a fixed six months before a strike can occur. It directly affects public sector workers by establishing a strict timeline where strikes are prohibited until six months of collective bargaining have passed, with a specific exception allowing public safety employees to strike immediately if negotiations fail. The legislation also clarifies that certain legal protections for impasses do not apply once a formal dispute is filed, ensuring the six-month negotiation window is the primary barrier to work stoppages.

By Representatives Balser of Newton and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2288) of Ruth B. Balser, Manny Cruz and others for legislation to prohibit local and state involvement in federal immigration enforcement, unless required by law. Public Safety and Homeland Security.