By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 454) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to conduct a study on the delivery of special education services. Education.
Maddy summarySD 190 creates a "safe harbor" for contractors in Massachusetts, protecting them from being classified as employees if they meet specific criteria. The bill directly affects independent contractors and businesses that hire them by providing clear standards for classification. Key provisions include requiring contracts to offer at least $30 per hour ($5,160 monthly), involve licensed professionals, require advanced knowledge/discretion, or grant ownership/copyright of work. This amendment to Chapter 149 (Section 148B) aims to clarify contractor status under state law without changing existing tax or labor requirements.
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1377) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to wage theft and due process. Labor and Workforce Development.
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 72) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to fees for certain commercial fishing permits. Agriculture.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board within Massachusetts' occupational licensure division. The board, consisting of seven members, will directly affect auto damage appraisers, insurance companies, auto body repair shops, and consumers by setting licensing standards. Key provisions include requiring the governor to appoint two industry representatives (auto repair and insurance), the attorney general to appoint a consumer advocate and a neutral office representative, and the licensing commissioner to appoint a chair who cannot represent either industry. The board will handle licensing requirements, with members limited to two consecutive 3-year terms.
Maddy summarySD 1324 bans requiring proof of COVID-19, mRNA, or gene-altering procedure vaccination for entry to the Commonwealth, public buildings, schools (K-12 and colleges), or private businesses. It directly affects state agencies, public institutions, and both public and private businesses by prohibiting existing requirements for vaccination as a condition of entry, enrollment, campus access, or employment. The bill amends state law to explicitly forbid all such vaccination mandates across these settings, including places of public accommodation like restaurants and stores. This is a policy change eliminating current or future requirements for vaccination proof in the specified contexts.
By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 730) of Peter J. Durant and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to increase the Medicaid life insurance exemption. Financial Services.
Maddy summarySD 427 requires ride share companies, including Uber and Lyft, to maintain a customer service line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The bill directly affects all ride share companies operating within the state by mandating continuous customer support access. The key provision is the 24/7 availability requirement for the customer service line, eliminating gaps in service during nights, weekends, or holidays. This policy change sets a specific operational standard for ride share companies regarding customer service accessibility.
By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1670) of Peter J. Durant and Bruce E. Tarr relative to permitting the manufacture and sale of sling shots. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summarySD 2224 amends a section of law related to custom vehicles by removing two specific time references: "on or before April 30, 2012" and "registered after April 30, 2012." This change eliminates an outdated deadline that no longer applies, as the referenced date (April 30, 2012) has long passed. The bill simplifies the legal language without altering current registration requirements for custom vehicles. It directly affects custom vehicle registration processes by removing obsolete phrasing from state law.
