1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1947 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1203
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Paul W. Mark
_________________
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 to establish a hospital and community health center worker minimum wage.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/13/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/13/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/13/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/13/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/14/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/21/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1947 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1203
By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1203) of Paul W. Mark, Jack Patrick
Lewis, Michael O. Moore, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for
legislation to establish a hospital and community health center worker minimum wage. Labor
and Workforce Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to establish a hospital and community health center worker minimum wage.
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 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby further amended
2by adding the following new section:
3 Section 51W
4 For the purposes of this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly
5requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
6 "Covered Hospital Facility" shall mean a hospital licensed under section 51 of this
7chapter, the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts medical school, any licensed
8private or state-owned and state-operated general acute care hospital, psychiatric hospital, acute
9care specialty hospital, any acute care unit within a state-operated healthcare facility, or a
10medium-security state correctional facility for male inmates located in Plymouth County that is
11operated and maintained by a private company under contract with the Department of 2 of 3
12Corrections. For purposes of this section, a covered acute care hospital facility shall not include
13rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, other long-term care facilities, or any other
14Massachusetts correctional facilities.
15 “Covered Community Health Center” a health center operating in conformance with the
16requirements of Section 330 of United States Public Law 95–626, including all community
17health centers which file cost reports as requested by the center for health information and
18analysis, and including community health centers affiliated with a hospital licensed under section
1951 of this chapter.
20 “Covered Community Health Center Worker” shall mean all personnel employed by or
21contracted to work at a community health center including but not limited to physicians,
22registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, service, maintenance,
23clerical, professional, and technical workers, and all other health care workers.
24 "Covered Hospital Worker" shall mean all personnel employed by or contracted to work
25at a covered hospital facility, including but not limited to physicians, registered nurses, licensed
26practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, service, maintenance, clerical, professional and
27technical workers, and all other health care workers.
28 (b) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, as a condition of state
29licensure and as a condition of receiving rate reimbursement from the Division of Medical
30Assistance, each covered community health center, and covered hospital shall directly
31compensate or otherwise ensure minimum compensation for each covered hospital worker and
32covered community health center worker at a rate of no less than 150% of the statewide 3 of 3
33minimum hourly wage as established in section 1 of chapter 151 of the Massachusetts General
34Laws.
35 (c) The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
36department of public health and the division of medical assistance, shall promulgate rules and
37regulations needed to implement and enforce this section, within 180 days of the passage of this
38act.