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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 348 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 422
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
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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 supporting parents running for public office.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patricia D. JehlenSecond MiddlesexJoan Meschino3rd PlymouthMike Connolly26th MiddlesexJack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/23/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/23/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/2/2023Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/3/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/7/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/8/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/10/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/14/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/15/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/17/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/21/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/27/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex2/28/2023Adam GomezHampden3/3/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/6/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 348 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 422
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 422) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Joan
Meschino, Mike Connolly, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for
legislation to support working parents who choose to run for public office. Election Laws.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 475 OF 2021-2022.]
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 supporting parents running for public office.
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. Section 1 of chapter 55 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
2amended by inserting after the definition of “Candidate’s committee” the following definition:-
3 “Child-care services,” care services provided to a candidate’s child, including, but not
4limited to, baby-sitting services by an individual, non-profit or for-profit organizations that
5provide such services and any other costs directly related to such services that occur as a result of
6campaign activities; provided, however, that expenses related to child-care services shall not
7include payments to a family member, as defined in section 1 of chapter 50, of a child, unless the
8family member owns, operates or is employed by a professional daycare or babysitting service,
9and the cost of the service is not greater than the family member would otherwise charge. 2 of 2
10 SECTION 2. Section 6 of said chapter 55, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
11inserting, after the word “office”, in line 66, the following: -
12 or expenses relating to the provision of child-care services that would not otherwise exist
13but for the existence of the campaign.
14 SECTION 3. The director of campaign and political finance shall promulgate regulations
15pursuant to section 6 of chapter 55 of the General Laws not later than December 31, 2023.