Massachusetts House Bill H4006

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/17/23
• Refer: 7/17/23
• Refer: 7/20/23
• Refer: 7/26/23
• Engrossed: 8/7/23
• Engrossed: 8/21/23
• Enrolled: 8/21/23
• Chaptered: 8/24/23
• Passed: 8/24/23

Caption

Establishing a sick leave bank for Kimberly Riggins, an employee of the Department of Correction

Impact

In terms of state law, HB 4006 serves as an exception to existing regulations by creating a specific provision for the establishment of a sick leave bank for an individual employee. The intended implementation would represent a shift in how sick leave policies can be structured, allowing for inter-employee assistance within the Department of Correction, potentially influencing other departments to consider similar approaches for employee benefits. Furthermore, the bill is designated as an emergency law, implying that its immediate implementation is deemed necessary to preserve public convenience.

Summary

House Bill 4006 aims to establish a sick leave bank for Kimberly Riggins, an employee of the Department of Correction in Massachusetts. This initiative allows any employee within the Department to voluntarily contribute one or more days of sick, personal, or vacation time to support Riggins during her period of illness or disability. The legislation emphasizes the community aspect of employee support within state agencies and seeks to alleviate the financial and emotional burden associated with prolonged illness.

Contention

While the bill seems to have a clear aim towards supporting an individual employee, there may be points of contention regarding the precedent it sets. Critics could argue that establishing a sick leave bank for one employee could lead to demands for similar arrangements across numerous state employees, which may place unforeseen burdens on departmental administration and resource allocations. These concerns reflect a broader dialogue about how individual cases of need are addressed within public service sectors and the scalability of such initiatives.