Child Welfare

H.227 An Act protecting benefits owed to foster children (co-filed with Senator Comerford) - REFILE after making it to SWM last session

The Foster Care Benefits Bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to screen foster children for SSI benefits eligibility, assist eligible foster children with applying for SSI benefits, and ensure that foster children are made aware of and receive their SSI benefits in a dedicated account. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

H.567 An Act fairly reimbursing local school transportation of foster children - REFILE after making it to HWM last session

The Foster Kid School Transportation Bill requires the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to file with the Department of Education (DOE) to reimburse school districts for funds spent on transporting a foster child to and from their foster home and the child’s school of origin. DCF will reimburse school districts for costs that the DOE does not fund.​

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Education

H.230 An Act empowering the Office of the Child Advocate to enforce its statutory duties - REFILE after making it to SWM last session

This bill allows the Office of the Child Advocate to operate independently in order to advocate on behalf of children in Department of Children and Families (DCF) care.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

H.228 An Act transferring foster care review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate (co-filed with Senator Comerford) - REFILE 

Currently, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is responsible for conducting a foster care review for each child’s case in their care to assess the appropriateness and safety of a child’s temporary placement and towards permanent placement. This bill proposes transferring the responsibilities of foster care review from the DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA). The OCA would be responsible for reviewing the safety and progress of every foster child’s case, with a focus on improving services and outcomes for foster children. . The transfer of the foster care review process from DCF to OCA is intended to ensure that appropriate services are being delivered in the best interest of the child and to promote greater accountability in the foster care system. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

H.229 An Act to assure quality foster care (co-filed with Senator Gomez) - REFILE after making it to SWM last session

This bill classifies foster parents as public employees to allow them to unionize and strengthen their bargaining power in their role caring for children under DCF care.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

AI/Data Privacy

H.78 An Act establishing the Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act

The MCDPA requires strong data minimization, meaning that data holders (“controllers”) must limit the collection, processing, or transfer of a consumer’s personal data to what is adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary to provide their services. Strong data minimization includes deleting or removing information when it is no longer necessary to mitigate the misuse of personal information and risks associated with data breaches. The bill requires additional protections for a consumer’s most sensitive data – health information, financial information, specific geolocation information, etc. It mandates clear, affirmative, informed consent (opt-in) for sensitive data transfers and has a blanket prohibition on the sale of sensitive data or processing the data of minors for targeted advertising. The bill also requires data protection assessments for high-risk processing activities, with reports submitted to the Attorney General with summaries of such assessments made accessible to the public. The MCDPA also includes a private right of action as a means of enforcement and includes Attorney General rulemaking to account for ever-evolving technology and use cases. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

H.77 An Act fostering artificial intelligence responsibility (co-filed with Senator Fernandes)

The FAIR Act aims to establish protections for workers when their employers use electronic tracking tools and AI in the workplace. The Act requires that employers have legitimate purposes for electronic monitoring, obtain employee consent, and maintain proper data security. It also requires employers or AI developers to conduct annual impact assessments before automated decision tools are used. The Act prohibits certain monitoring practices, with some exceptions such as tracking off-duty employees or using facial recognition, and protects workers who use their professional judgment to disagree with potentially harmful AI outputs. The Act borrows language from the NY BOT Act and NY LOADinG Act.

Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

H.76 An Act to protect against election misinformation (co-filed with Senator Moore)

This bill prohibits the malicious distribution of certain deceptive messages designed to disrupt an election within 90 days of voting. The legislation specifically targets fake media - including media like deepfakes created using artificial intelligence - intended to disrupt elections, limiting its restrictions to media that contains false information about election logistics, voting rights, or political endorsements. The Attorney General and individuals whose likeness appears in this deceptive content can seek injunctive relief to prevent disruptions to free and fair elections. Depicted individuals may also sue for damages. The bill provides exemptions – such as protecting journalists, media, and satire and parody – intended to protect free speech rights.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking

H.1683 An Act to strengthen justice and support for sex trade survivors (co-filed with Rep. Keefe)

The Sex Trade Survivors Act aims to increase access to expungement for survivors of exploitation (also referred to as sex trafficking) to remove barriers to employment, housing, education, and other social and economic opportunities that a criminal record can impose on survivors — who are overwhelmingly women and girls, and disproportionately BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals.

This bill also establishes a commission to publish recommendations on existing programming for survivors and current prevention efforts. This report would recommend ways to improve access to housing, healthcare, education, job training, legal assistance, and compensation for survivors, provide strategies for education and prevention campaigns, and recommend ways to increase organizations’ abilities to support survivors.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

H.1746 An Act enhancing protections for sexual violence survivors (co-filed with Rep. Keefe and Sen. Friedman)

This bill establishes protections for sexual violence survivors to ensure that they can make informed choices about the handling of their sexual assault evidence kits. Survivors can elect to have their kits tested or have them stored for the duration of the statute of limitations. The bill prohibits the results of a survivor's rape kit from being used to prosecute them by mandating that the survivor’s DNA samples can only be used for purposes directly related to the incident being investigated, and prohibits these samples from being included in any database that allows comparison to or matching with profiles from other crime scenes.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Civic Engagement

H.568 An Act relative to student representative voting rights - REFILE after making it to SWM last session

This bill allows school committees of cities, towns, and regional school districts to recognize two unpaid student representatives elected by the student bodies of secondary schools within the district to vote on all matters before the school committee. An elected student advisory committee will also assist constituents and the elected student representatives.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Education

H.3328 An Act relative to virtual meetings of appointed statewide public bodies - REFILE after making it to HWM last session

This bill would allow any member of an appointed statewide public body to attend any meeting remotely and ensure that they are considered present for all purposes, including voting and determining a quorum. It also ensures that such virtual meetings are open and accessible to the public. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Labor

H.2097 An Act relative to collective bargaining rights of Massachusetts employees - (co-filed with Senator Kennedy)

The bill is intended to promote the legislative policy and purposes of collective bargaining as a means of facilitating stability of labor management relations. It does so by ensuring that the Department of Labor Relations can certify the exclusive bargaining representative of a bargaining unit if they were previously certified by a government agency, such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

H.2821 An Act to provide pensions to surviving spouses of Department of Children and Families social workers killed in the line of duty - REFILE

This legislation will extend the line of duty death benefits to DCF social workers. Currently, if a police officer, firefighter, or correctional officer is killed on the job, the surviving spouse receives the full pension/salary of the deceased spouse. There is no such benefit for DCF social workers. DCF social workers face threats of violence on a daily basis, and sadly social workers have lost their lives for simply doing their job. For example, if a police officer and social worker enter a house to remove a child, and the situation escalates where both the police officer and the social worker both lose their lives, only the police officer's family receives the death benefit.

This legislation will extend to DCF social workers the same line of duty death benefits currently afforded to police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers. Under these benefits, if an employee is killed while on duty, the surviving spouse receives the full pension/salary of the deceased spouse. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Service

Civil Rights & Judiciary

H.1685 An Act relating to threats of suicide while in court custody (Stavri’s Law)

This bill would allow all law enforcement agencies to be alerted and to adjust procedures accordingly when an individual in their custody is at high risk of self-harm or suicide. It maintains that court mental health commitment records are private, except under certain circumstances, but allows them to share information with law enforcement. This legislation is filed in remembrance of Stavri Yanka.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

H.2098 An Act codifying organizational standing 

This bill grants public interest organizations legal standing to file complaints or take civil action in cases of alleged unlawful practices, particularly if discrimination or violations complicate their mission or the people supporting that mission. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

H.1684 An Act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class - REFILE

This bill creates civil penalties for individuals who report non-emergent incidents to the police involving members of protected classes, which includes race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person.

Status: Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Public Service

H.2822 An Act relative to the size of the group insurance commission board - REFILE

This legislation increases the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board and states that the new seat shall be filled by a member of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES).

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Service

H.3329 An Act relative to reimbursing traveling expenses of Governor’s council members

This bill would ensure members of the Governor’s council remain eligible for reimbursement throughout their full tenure, a change of particular importance to those traveling from farther reaches of the state.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Transportation 

H.3658 An Act establishing a special commission on micro-transit (co-filed with Representative Smola)

This bill creates a special commission on micro-transit to study emerging micro-transit services in the Commonwealth in an effort to increase transportation equity. The commission is tasked with creating a report of findings and recommendations on micro-transit operating models, defining micro-transit for state funding eligibility, estimating and assessing necessary state funding and assessing other funding sources, and examining micro-transit's role in enhancing connectivity and addressing transportation inequities. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation

H.3788 An Act to explore alternative funding sources to ensure safe and reliable transportation (co-filed with Representative Stanley) - REFILE 

This legislation proposes a small, voluntary vehicle miles traveled pilot program to identify alternatives to the gas tax. The pilot will evaluate ways to protect the data collected, ensure privacy, and vary pricing based on time of driving, type of road, proximity to transit, and vehicle fuel.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation

Revenue 

H.3089 An Act relative to taxation of digital advertising services (co-filed with Representative Moakley and Senator Fernandes)

This bill imposes a 5% excise tax on companies who exceed $25 million of revenue in Massachusetts from digital advertising. The money generated from this tax will be divided into two newly established funds: the Local Newspaper Trust Fund and the Pre-K and After School Program Trust Fund. 

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Revenue

Public Health

H.2413 An Act recognizing EMS as a disease dangerous to the public health, requiring inclusion in MAVEN, establishing the Massachusetts EMS registry and requiring biennial reporting as part of population health trends

This bill recognizes Electromagnetic Sensitivity ("EMS") as a disease and public health risk that is possibly linked to environmental exposures. EMS will be added to the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiological Network ("MAVEN") to facilitate reporting, research, tracing, and information dissemination of the disease.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health

Child Welfare

H.155 An Act to ensure quality foster care (co-filed with Senator Gomez) – REFILE after making it to HWM last session

This bill classifies foster parents as public employees to allow foster parents to unionize and strengthen their bargaining power in their role caring for children under DCF care.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Reported favorably to Senate Ways and Means

H.158 An Act establishing the Massachusetts foster care review office (co-filed with Senator Comerford) – REFILE

Current Federal law requires every child in foster care to undergo a review of the status of their case every 6 months. In Massachusetts, this review is performed under the purview of DCF. This bill would remove these reviews from DCF by creating an independent agency to perform these reviews. The 15-person board, made up of foster care alumni, retired reviewers, the Office of the Child Advocate, among other agencies, will supervise the creation, implementation, and operations of this new agency.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Extended until May 2, 2024

H.157 An Act protecting benefits owed to foster children (co-filed with Senator Comerford)

This bill requires DCF to screen foster children for SSI benefits eligibility, assist eligible foster children with applying for SSI benefits, and ensure that foster children are made aware of and receive their SSI benefits in a dedicated account. Currently, DCF is able to take benefits children in care are receiving and apply them to regular care they are receiving.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Extended until May 2, 2024

H.3570 An Act fairly reimbursing local school transportation of foster children (co-filed with Senator Comerford)

This bill requires DCF to file with the Department of Education to reimburse school districts for funds spent on transporting a foster child to and from their foster home and the child’s school of origin. DCF will reimburse school districts for costs that the DOE does not fund.​

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Education, Favorable Report as Redrafted (H.4422) to House Ways and Means

H.156 An Act empowering the office of the child advocate to enforce its statutory duties – REFILE

This bill allows the Office of the Child Advocate to operate independently in order to advocate on behalf of children in DCF care.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Extended until May 2, 2024

Civic Engagement

H.3671 An Act relative to virtual meetings of appointed statewide public bodies (co-filed with Representative Domb) – REFILE

This bill adjusts public meeting law in order to allow statewide commissions and boards to meet virtually while complying with open meeting laws.

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, Extended until July 1, 2024

H.474 An Act relative to student representative voting rights (co-filed with Senator Gomez)

This bill allows school committees of cities, towns, and regional school districts to recognize two unpaid student representatives elected by the student bodies of secondary schools within the district to vote on all matters before the school committee. An elected student advisory committee will also assist constituents and the elected student representatives.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Education, Sent to Study

Judiciary

H.1476 An Act relating to threats of suicide while in court custody (Stavri’s Law) (co-filed with Representative Brian Ashe and Senator Jake Oliveira)

This bill requires the court to input SUI/Q5 (reports of self-harm or suicidal behavior while in law enforcement custody) into the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) system. This input would allow all Law Enforcement agencies to be alert when they have an individual at high risk of self-harm in their custody and to adjust their procedures accordingly. This legislation is filed in remembrance of Stavri Yanka.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Judiciary, Sent to Study

H.1546 An Act establishing a bill of rights for survivors of sexual assault and related purposes (co-filed with Representative Natalie Higgins) – REFILE

This bill creates a list of rights that are guaranteed to survivors of sexual assault as they seek medical, professional, and legal assistance following their assaults.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Judiciary, Sent to Study

H.1597 An Act to strengthen justice and support for sex trade survivors (co-filed with Rep. Keefe, Sen. Friedman, & Sen. Edwards) – REFILE from last session’s work by Rep. Keefe & Malia, and Sen. Chandler

This bill repeals the crime of selling sex for the prostituted person, expands access to social services for people in prostitution, strengthens laws against trafficking, and advances criminal justice reform for trafficking survivors and people in prostitution.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Judiciary, Extended until April 30, 2024

H.1478 An Act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class – REFILE

This bill creates civil penalties for individuals who report non-emergent incidents to the police involving members of protected classes, which includes race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Judiciary, Sent to Study

H.1477 An Act updating and clarifying the statute relating to “upskirting”

This bill expands the definition of what qualifies as “upskirting” and establishes associated penalties.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Judiciary, Sent to Study

Physical & Mental Health

H.936 An Act providing continuity of care for mental health treatment (Co-filed with Representative Balser) – REFILE

The bill requires that a health plan pay for the continuation of mental health treatment with a provider in the case that the health plan changes and the provider is no longer covered by the individual's plan, so long as the provider agrees to the terms of the plan.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Financial Services, Favorable Report to Health Care Financing Committee

H.2158 An Act recognizing EMS as a disease dangerous to the public health, requiring inclusion in MAVEN, establishing the Massachusetts EMS Registry and requiring biennial reporting as part of population health trends

This bill recognizes Electromagnetic Sensitivity ("EMS") as a disease and public health risk that is possibly linked to environmental exposures. EMS will be added to the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiological Network ("MAVEN") to facilitate reporting, research, tracing, and information dissemination of the disease.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Public Health, Sent to Study

Public Service

H.2513 An Act relative to the size of the Group Insurance Commission board – REFILE

This legislation increases the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board and states that the new seat shall be filled by a member of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES).

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Public Service, Sent to Study

H.2514 An Act to provide pensions to surviving spouses of Department of Children and Families social workers killed in the line of duty – REFILE

This legislation will extend the line of duty death benefits to DCF social workers. Currently, if a police officer, firefighter, correctional officer is killed on the job, the surviving spouse receives the full pension/salary of the deceased spouse. There is no such benefit for DCF social workers. DCF social workers face threats of violence on a daily basis, and sadly social workers have lost their lives for simply doing their job. For example, if a police officer and social worker enter a house to remove a child, and the situation escalates where both the police officer and the social worker both lose their lives, only the police officer's family receives the death benefit.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Public Service, Sent to Study

Miscellaneous

H.3027 Resolve establishing a study of public safety & security facilities (Co-filed with Sen. Mark) – REFILE after making it HWM last session

DCAMM and EOPSS shall study Gateway cities' ability to pay for repairs, construction, renovations, improvements, remediation, rehabilitation, modernization, and demolition of municipal buildings and make recommendations on immediate needs for fiscal support and capital improvements.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, Favorable Report to House Ways and Means

H.1872 An Act requiring one fair wage (Co-filed with Representative Montano & Senator Jehlen) – REFILE after making it to SWM last session

Currently, tipped employees are paid a “sub-minimum wage” of $6.75 per hour, which is less than half of the full minimum wage of $15 per hour. This bill would phase out the sub-minimum wage over 7 years, with tips on top. Additionally, once the full minimum wage is reached for all employees, tip sharing will be allowed between “front of house” and “back of house” employees.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Extended until July 31, 2024

H.3428 An Act to explore alternative funding sources to ensure safe and reliable transportation (Co-filed with Rep. Stanley) – REFILE

This legislation proposes a small voluntary vehicle miles traveled pilot program to identify alternatives to the gas tax. The pilot will evaluate ways to protect the data collected, ensure privacy, and vary pricing based on time of driving, type of road, proximity to transit, and vehicle fuel.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Transportation, Sent to Study

H.3647 An Act relative to retirement benefits for June Tooley (Co-filed with Sen. Mark) – REFILE

This bill states that the state retirement board shall permit June Tooley to purchase 16 years of creditable service for $195,000.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Public Service, Sent to Study

H.2045 An Act authorizing the city of Pittsfield to award a 1 year or multiple-year contract to audit (Co-filed with Sen. Mark)

This bill changes independent audits by authorizing the city of Pittsfield to award a 1 year or multiple-year contract to audit.

Status: Assigned to Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, Enacted into Law on December 14, 2023

H.4174 An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to convey a certain parcel of land in the city of Pittsfield (co-file with Senator Mark)

Status: Assigned to the Joint Committee on State Adminstration and Regulatory Oversight, Favorable Report to House Ways and Means

Priority Bills

H.3456 An Act relative to work and family mobility during and subsequent to the COVID-19 emergency (co-filed with Representative Barber)

This bill allows individuals who are unable to prove lawful presence to use other documents to verify identity in order to receive a standard Massachusetts driver’s license.

Status: Enacted into Law on June 9, 2022

H.1971 An Act requiring one fair wage (co-filed with Representative Fluker Oakley)

This bill changes the wage for restaurant tip workers from the sub-minimum wage to the full minimum wage over the 7-year phase in period. It also allows for tip sharing between the “front of house staff” with the “back of house staff” once the full minimum wage rate is reached. The language update from the previous session is in regard to allowing for tip sharing.

Status: Favorably reported from the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development as S.1213 to the Senate; Accompanied to Study in Senate Ways and Means

Child Welfare

H.212 An Act establishing a foster parents’ Bill of Rights (co-filed with Representative Donato)

This bill creates a list of rights that are guaranteed to foster parents.

Status: Signed into law on Jan. 4, 2023

H.211 An Act establishing the Massachusetts foster care review office (co-filed with Representative Donato)

This bill creates an independent agency that will be overseen by the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) that will review the status of every child in foster care every 6 months and will create policies and procedures for the foster care system. The language change is in regards to including a piece defining “child welfare” and including that in the consideration for the placement of a child.

Status: Accompanied to study

H.210 An Act empowering the office of the child advocate to enforce its statutory duties

This bill allows the Office of the Child Advocate to operate independently in order to advocate on behalf of children in DCF care.

Status: Accompanied to study

H.213 An Act to assure quality foster care

This bill allows foster parents to unionize in order to increase bargaining power in their role caring for children under DCF care.

Status: in House Ways and Means; Accompanied to Study

Public Service

H.2638 An Act relative to the size of the group insurance commission board

This legislation increases the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board and states that the new seat shall be filled by a member of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES).

Status: Accompanied to study

H.2639 An Act to provide pensions to surviving spouses of Department of Children and Families social workers killed in the line of duty

This legislation will extend in the line of duty death benefits to DCF social workers. Currently, if a police officer, firefighter, correctional officer is killed on the job, the surviving spouse receives the full pension/salary of the deceased spouse. There is no such benefit for DCF social workers. DCF social workers face threats of violence on a daily basis, and sadly social workers have lost their lives for simply doing their job. For example, if a police officer and social worker enter a house to remove a child, and the situation escalates where both the police officer and the social worker both lose their lives, only the police officer's family receives the death benefit.

Status: Accompanied to study

Public Health

H.2280 An Act creating a commission to study concussions that occur as a result of varsity sports in public and private high schools

This bill creates a commission to study concussions that occur in varsity sports, collect data on concussions, and make recommendations on how to reduce them. The language update is in regards to an additional section in the bill that requires data be collected on concussions as a result of varsity sports.

Status: Extended in the Joint Committee on Public Health until December 31, 2022; Accompanied to Study

Financial Services

H.1039 An Act providing continuity of care for mental health treatment (co-filed with Representative Balser)

The bill requires that a health plan pay for the continuation of mental health treatment with a provider in the case that the health plan changes and the provider is no longer covered by the individual's plan, so long as the provider agrees to the terms of the plan.

Status: House Clerk's Office; Accompanied to Study

Transportation

H.3454 An Act to explore alternative funding sources to ensure safe and reliable transportation (co-filed with Representative Stanley)

This legislation proposes a small voluntary vehicle miles traveled pilot program to identify alternatives to the gas tax. The pilot will evaluate ways to protect the data collected, ensure privacy, and vary pricing based on time of driving, type of road, proximity to transit and vehicle fuel.

Status: Accompanied to Study

H.3455 An Act designating highway 20 as a state historic highway (co-filed with Representative Pignatelli)

This bill will allow the 31 municipalities along route 20 to add signage bearing the designation.

Status: In House Steering, Policy and Scheduling as part of H.3455

Miscellaneous

H.3224 An Act relative to virtual meetings of appointed statewide public bodies (co-filed with Representatives Robinson and Domb, and Senator Cyr)

This bill adjusts public meeting law in order to allow meetings of statewide commissions and boards to meet virtually while complying with open meeting laws.

Status: Extended in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight until June 30, 2022; Accompanied to Study

H.3140 Resolve establishing a study of public safety & security facilities (co-filed with Senator Hinds)

DCAMM and EOPSS shall study Gateway Cities ability to pay for repairs, construction, renovations, improvements, remediation, rehabilitation, modernization, and demolition of municipal buildings and make recommendations on immediate needs for fiscal support and capital improvements

Status: In House Ways and Means; Accompanied to Study

H.1561 An Act to amend the civil rights law in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class

This bill creates civil penalties for individuals who report non-emergent incidents to the police involving members of protected classes, which includes race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation of a person.

Status: Accompanied to Study

H.1560 An Act relative to use of ways by pedestrians

This legislation would provide municipalities some leeway in punishing violations of local pedestrian regulations by permitting cities and towns to establish the fine (up to $50) without prior written approval of the division of highways or publication in a local newspaper.

Status: Accompanied to Study

H.1644 An Act An act establishing a bill of rights for survivors of sexual assault and related purposes (co-filed with Representative Higgins)

This legislation outlines rights for survivors of sexual assault when they seek medical and professional help and during the prosecution process.

Status: Extended in the Joint Committee on Judiciary until June 30, 2022; Accompanied to Study

Child Welfare Legislation

H.112 An Act establishing The Massachusetts Foster Care Review Office

This legislation removes the responsibility for foster care review from DCF, transfers it to an external and independent body, the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) and mandates the authority required to ensure foster care review determinations and recommendations are implemented and followed-up.

H.113 An Act Relative to Foster Parent Rights

This legislation seeks to establish a Bill of Rights for Foster Parents. Foster Parents are an integral resource for the Department of Children and Families when seeking to care or children in custody of the Commonwealth. It is essential to treat them with respect and dignity for the important role they play. With the current DCF crisis, there is a great shortage of foster families and these policies will lead to better retention and recruitment.

Health Care

H.966 An Act to Promote Value-Based Insurance Design in the Commonwealth

This legislation eliminates copays and deductibles for certain high-value and low cost prescription drugs and treatments such as insulin, inhalers, and anti-retroviral medications. A panel of medical experts within EOHHS will determine which of these services should not be subject to cost sharing, and after approval by the EOHHS Secretary, fully insured health plans would no longer charge copays for them.

H.1876 An Act Relative to Creating a Commission to Study Concussions

This legislation creates a commission to study concussions that occur as a result of varsity sports in public and private high schools and to make recommendations on how to reduce them.

H.1149 An Act to Require Equivalent Medicaid Reimbursement

Several out-of- state hospitals contract with MassHealth in order to provide care to Massachusetts residents living in border communities. However, these providers often receive significantly higher reimbursement for treating patients on the MassHealth program than they do from patients on their own home state Medicaid programs. This can lead to these providers seeking to draw Massachusetts patients over state lines and out of the Commonwealth’s health care system. This legislation mandates that out-of- state providers that contract with MassHealth receive a rate no higher than that of their own Medicaid program, ensuring that our state dollars support Massachusetts patients and the hospitals that employ Massachusetts residents.

H.967 An Act to protect consumers from surprise medical bills

Surprise billing occurs when patients receive out-of-network care that they did not or could not intentionally choose to receive, and then are faced with unexpected and unaffordable medical bills. An Act to protect consumers from surprise medical bills protects consumers by requiring health plans and providers to disclose comprehensive information to consumers about the network status of providers; requiring specific patient consent for out-of-network services; and prohibiting providers from billing consumers more than their in-network cost-sharing amount.

Sexual Assault Protections

H.1209 An Act Concerning Sexual Violence on Higher Education Campuses

These new sections of the MGL would require higher education institutions to also include information on dating violence, domestic violence sexual assault, and stalking, such as how to report an incident; where to seek medical treatment and counseling on and off-campus; the right to notify law enforcement; how to seek protective measures like changing dorms or classes; the rights of the alleged victim and accused during the disciplinary process and the sanctions that may be imposed by the school. In addition, higher education institutions shall develop their campus safety policies in coordination with the institution’s Title IX coordinator and relevant stakeholders such as institutional administrators, campus counseling, sexual assault services and health care centers; confidential resources; residence life; and law enforcement.

Transportation

H.3010 An Act to Explore Alternative Funding Sources to Ensure Safe and Reliable Transportation

This legislation proposes a small voluntary vehicle miles traveled pilot program to identify alternatives to the gas tax. The pilot will evaluate ways to protect the data collected, ensure privacy, and vary pricing based on the time of driving, type of road, proximity to transit, and vehicle fuel.

H.3011 An Act designating United States highway Route 20 as a state historic highway

This bill will allow the 31 municipalities along Route 20 to add signage bearing the designation.

H.3012 An Act relative to Work and Family Mobility

This bill would enable all qualified state residents to apply for a standard Massachusetts driver’s license, regardless of immigration status, while keeping our Commonwealth in full compliance with REAL ID requirements.

H.3013 An Act to Promote the Safe Integration of Autonomous Vehicles into the Transportation System of the Commonwealth

This bill would require that all autonomous vehicles be required to be zero emission vehicles and to pay for their share of the road through a tax per mile driven.

Labor

H.1617 An Act requiring One Fair Wage

This legislation would gradually raise the current sub-minimum wage for tipped workers over several years until employers are required to pay all employees the full minimum wage under the minimum wage law.

Tipped workers hold a uniquely vulnerable position in our state's employment landscape. While the current minimum wage is at $12/hr, tipped workers have a minimum wage of $4.35/hr. This is the largest gap in the country. The two-tiered wage leaves workers vulnerable to wage theft, pay discrimination, and sexual harassment or assault.

H.2245 An Act Relative to Increasing the Size of the Group Insurance Commission Board

This legislation increases the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board and states that the new seat shall be filled by a member of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES).

Public Service

H.2246 An act to provide pensions to surviving spouses of Department of Children and Families social workers killed in the line of duty

This legislation will extend in the line of duty death benefits to DCF social workers. Currently, if a police officer, firefighter, correctional officer is killed on the job, the surviving spouse receives the full pension/salary of the deceased spouse. There is no such benefit for DCF social workers. DCF social workers face threats of violence on a daily basis, and sadly social workers have lost their lives for simply doing their job. For example, if a police officer and social worker enter a house to remove a child, and the situation escalates where both the police officer and the social worker both lose their lives, only the police officers family receives the death benefit.

Miscellaneous

H.3283 An Act Relative to Use of Ways By Pedestrians (i.e. Jaywalking)

This legislation would provide municipalities some leeway in punishing violations of local pedestrian regulations by permitting cities and towns to establish the fine (up to $50) without prior written approval of the division of highways or publication in a local newspaper.

H.3519 An Act clarifying the definition of agriculture

This legislation clears up public confusion as to whether or not the cultivation of cannabis plants (hemp or "marihuana") is considered an agricultural activity by explicitly listing "hemp and marihuana," within the Commonwealth's definition of "agriculture" (MGL 128 § 1A).

H.2694 Resolve establishing a study of public safety and security facilities

Child Welfare Legislation

H.87 An Act establishing The Massachusetts Foster Care Review Office

This legislation removes the responsibility for foster care review from DCF, transfers it to an external and independent body, the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) and mandates the authority required to ensure foster care review determinations and recommendations are implemented and followed-up.

H.1955 An Act Relative to Foster Parent Rights

This legislation seeks to establish a Bill of Rights for Foster Parents. Foster Parents are an integral resource for the Department of Children and Families when seeking to care or children in custody of the Commonwealth. It is essential to treat them with respect and dignity for the important role they play. With the current DCF crisis, there is a great shortage of foster families and these policies will lead to better retention and recruitment.

H.783 An Act to Improve Permanency and Placement Stability

This legislation: allows each child age 7 or older in DCF’s care to have the opportunity to express their preferred custody placement; allows for each parent to provide any name of an adult who can provide custody to their children; requires that the issue of whether reasonable efforts have been made be raised at a series of existing hearings including, both the ex parte removal hearing and the temporary orders hearing under section 24, the pre-trial conference, and permanency hearings under section; requires a regional clinical review team to conduct a review when any child or young adult has experienced more than 2 placements in a single foster care episode; allows a child who is 12 years or older to petition the court to reinstate parental rights if more than 2 years have passed since the entry of the order and if the permanency goal for the child is no longer adoption.

Sexual Assault Protections

H.632 An Act Concerning Sexual Violence on Higher Education Campuses

These new sections of the MGL would require higher education institutions to also include information on dating violence, domestic violence sexual assault, and stalking, such as how to report an incident; where to seek medical treatment and counseling on and off-campus; the right to notify law enforcement; how to seek protective measures like changing dorms or classes; the rights of the alleged victim and accused during the disciplinary process and the sanctions that may be imposed by the school. In addition, higher education institutions shall develop their campus safety policies in coordination with the institution’s Title IX coordinator and relevant stakeholders such as institutional administrators, campus counseling, sexual assault services and health care centers; confidential resources; residence life; and law enforcement.

Health Care

H.522 An Act to Promote Value-Based Insurance Design in the Commonwealth

This legislation eliminates copays and deductibles for certain high-value and low cost prescription drugs and treatments such as insulin, inhalers, and anti-retroviral medications. A panel of medical experts within EOHHS will determine which of these services should not be subject to cost sharing, and after approval by the EOHHS Secretary, fully insured health plans would no longer charge copays for them.

H.1155 An Act Relative to Creating a Commission to Study Concussions

This legislation creates a commission to study concussions that occur as a result of varsity sports in public and private high schools and to make recommendations on how to reduce them.

H.2213 An Act to Require Equivalent Medicaid Reimbursement

Several out-of- state hospitals contract with MassHealth in order to provide care to Massachusetts residents living in border communities. However, these providers often receive significantly higher reimbursement for treating patients on the MassHealth program than they do from patients on their own home state Medicaid programs. This can lead to these providers seeking to draw Massachusetts patients over state lines and out of the Commonwealth’s health care system. This legislation mandates that out-of- state providers that contract with MassHealth receive a rate no higher than that of their own Medicaid program, ensuring that our state dollars support Massachusetts patients and the hospitals that employ Massachusetts residents.

Transportation

H.1829 An Act to Promote the Safe Integration of Autonomous Vehicles into the Transportation System of the Commonwealth

This bill would require that all autonomous vehicles be required to be zero emission vehicles and to pay for their share of the road through a tax per mile driven.

H.1828 An Act to Explore Alternative Funding Sources to Ensure Safe and Reliable Transportation

This legislation proposes a small voluntary vehicle miles traveled pilot program to identify alternatives to the gas tax. The pilot will evaluate ways to protect the data collected, ensure privacy, and vary pricing based on the time of driving, type of road, proximity to transit, and vehicle fuel.

Labor

H.1378 An Act Relative to Increasing the Size of the Group Insurance Commission Board

This legislation increases the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board and states that the new seat shall be filled by a member of the Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES).

Miscellaneous

H.782 An Act Relative to Use of Ways By Pedestrians (i.e. Jaywalking)

This legislation would provide municipalities some leeway in punishing violations of local pedestrian regulations by permitting cities and towns to establish the fine (up to $50) without prior written approval of the division of highways or publication in a local newspaper.

H.4763 An Act providing for post-employment benefits for school bus drivers in the city of Pittsfield.

This bill was signed into law on January 6, 2017.

H.2985 An Act relative to safe driving.

H.1278 An Act establishing a bill of rights for victims of sexual assault and related purposes.

This bill was changed to H.4364, An Act relative to the preservation of evidence for victims of rape and sexual assault, and was signed into law on October 19, 2016.

H.1937 An Act relative to the safe disposal of prescription drugs.

Language from this bill was added to H.4056, An Act relative to substance use, treatment, education, and prevention, which was approved by the Governor on March 14, 2016.

H.1041 An Act concerning sexual violence on higher education campuses.

H.1938 An Act relative to creating a commission to study concussions.

H.2984 An Act to explore alternative funding sources to ensure safe and reliable transportation.

H.841 An Act relative to prescription eye drops.

This bill was signed into law on January 13, 2017.

H.1277 An Act relative to property storage summary process.

H.1276 An Act relative to use of ways by pedestrians (i.e. jaywalking).

H.1590 An Act relative to Veterans' Agents.

H.2288. An Act relative to increasing the size of the Group Insurance Commission Board.

H.984 An Act relative to keep people healthy by removing barriers to cost-effective care.

H.1702 An Act relative to tipped minimum wage.