1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 501 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 75
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
_________________
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 lift kids out of deep poverty.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkRebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/23/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/23/2023Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth1/24/2023Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden1/24/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/24/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/25/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/25/2023John J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex1/27/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex1/27/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/27/2023Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk1/27/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester1/27/2023Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex1/27/2023Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester1/27/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/30/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex1/31/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/1/2023 2 of 2
Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/1/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/6/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/7/2023Pavel M. PayanoFirst Essex2/8/2023Michael F. RushNorfolk and Suffolk2/10/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/21/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/21/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/23/2023Liz MirandaSecond Suffolk2/23/2023Adam GomezHampden2/23/2023Carlos González10th Hampden3/1/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire3/2/2023Cindy F. FriedmanFourth Middlesex3/3/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/7/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 501 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 75
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 75) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Mark C. Montigny and other members of the General
Court for legislation to lift kids out of deep poverty. Children, Families and Persons with
Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 96 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty.
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 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place
3thereof the following new paragraph:- "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the
4contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program not including the rental
5allowance shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2023 by 25
6percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment
7standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household
8size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of
9the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective
10July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50% of the poverty 2 of 2
11level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human
12Services; provided further, that the need standard and the payment amounts shall be further
13increased by the amount of a clothing allowance in the month for which it is paid and by the
14rental allowance for households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public
15or subsidized housing."
16 SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
17Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following new
18paragraph:- "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards
19for monthly benefits for the program shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning
20with July 1, 2023 by 25 percent above the payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year
21until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level
22for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size
23equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall
24be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less
25than 50% of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of
26Health and Human Services".