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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 274 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1961
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Christopher J. Worrell
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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 relative to bereavement leave.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christopher J. Worrell5th Suffolk1/11/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 274 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1961
By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1961) of
Christopher J. Worrell relative to bereavement leave. Labor and Workforce Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to bereavement leave.
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. Chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after Section 52E, the following section:-
3 Section 52F. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings:-
5 “Bereavement”, leave from employment taken to grieve or make arrangements
6necessitated by the death of a family member.
7 “Family member,” the child, parent, guardian, sibling, spouse or person in a substantive
8dating or engagement relationship with an employee and who resides with that employee.
9 (b) An employer shall permit an employee to take bereavement leave following the death
10of a family member for up to 10 business days, used consecutively or non-consecutively, within
11any 12 month period to: 2 of 2
12 (1) Make arrangements necessitated by the death of the family member, including, but
13 not limited to, funeral arrangements, estate preparation, or other legal arrangements;
14 (2) Attend the funeral or equivalent to a funeral of a family member; or
15 (3) Grieve the death of a family member.
16 (4) Attend or prepare for legal proceedings related to the death of a family member.
17 (c) Leave permitted under this section must be initiated within 30 days of the date on
18which an employee receives notice of the death of a family member.
19 (d) An employer shall have the sole discretion to determine whether any leave taken
20under this section shall be paid or unpaid.
21 (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to affect any bargaining agreement,
22company policy, or other federal, state, or municipal law which provides for greater or additional
23rights to leave than those provided for by this section.
24 (f) An employer may require proof of death in the form of a medical record or police
25report.
26 (g) Notwithstanding subsection (b), an employer employing fewer than 10 employees in
27the commonwealth shall not be required to comply with this section.