1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 912 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1913
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act creating a special legislative commission to study barriers to job retention for low-
income workers.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/17/2023Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/25/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 912 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1913
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1913) of
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Bud L. Williams for legislation to establish a special
commission (including members of the General Court) to conduct a study and make
recommendations on the barriers faced by low-income workers to finding and maintaining jobs
in the Commonwealth. Labor and Workforce Development.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2012 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act creating a special legislative commission to study barriers to job retention for low-
income workers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1.
2 a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, there shall be a special
3commission established to conduct a study and make recommendations on the barriers faced by
4low-income workers to finding and maintaining jobs in the Commonwealth. The commission
5shall consist of 18 members, as follows:
6 i. House and Senate Chairs of the Committee on Labor and Workforce
7Development, who shall serve as Co-Chairs; 2 of 3
8 ii.the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development or the Secretary’s designee;
9 iii.the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary’s designee;
10 iv.the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development or the Secretary’s designee;
11 v. the Secretary of the Department of Transitional Assistance or the Secretary’s
12designee;
13 vi.the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Secretary’s
14designee;
15 vii.1 of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by
16the Speaker of the House;
17 viii.1 of whom shall be member of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate President;
18 ix.1 of whom shall be appointed by Ascentria Care Alliance
19 x. 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Job Training Alliance
20 xi.1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Retail Association
21 xii.1 of whom shall be appointed by Associated Industry of Massachusetts
22 xiii.1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network
23 xiv.1 of whom shall be appointed by EmPath
24 xv.1 of whom shall be appointed by the Mass. Business Roundtable
25 xvi.1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association 3 of 3
26 xvii.1 of whom shall be appointed by the Commonwealth Corporation
27 b) The Commission shall examine and make recommendations on topics including,
28but not limited to:
29 i. Barriers that exist in Massachusetts that prevent low-income workers from finding
30and retaining jobs with sustainable wages;
31 ii.Strategies that the Commonwealth could employ that would help to address
32barriers to job retention for low-income workers;
33 iii.Massachusetts laws and regulations that are currently in place, or could be put in
34place, that assist or hamper this population from maintaining jobs with a sustainable wage;
35 iv.Holistic and wraparound service approaches and programs that the
36Commonwealth could explore to prevent a fragmented and inefficient response to addressing
37these barriers.
38 c) The commission may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the
39public to gather information. The Commission and its working groups are encouraged to involve
40other experts, stakeholders and members of the public in its work through listening and working
41group sessions or whatever other mechanisms the Commission chooses.
42 d) The commission shall file its recommendations, including any drafts of legislation
43or regulations necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the house of
44representatives and senate, the joint committee on public health and the joint committee on
45health care financing not later than March 1, 2024.