Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S763 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1285 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 763
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Robyn K. Kennedy
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to promote an enhanced care worker minimum wage.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst WorcesterJohn J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex1/25/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/26/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex1/26/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/27/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/27/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester1/27/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
16	16	Hampshire
17	17	2/6/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/8/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/8/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/10/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/13/2023 1 of 4
18	18	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1285 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
19	19	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 763
20	20	By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 763) of Robyn K. Kennedy, John
21	21	J. Cronin, Jack Patrick Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch and other members of the General Court for
22	22	legislation to promote an enhanced care worker minimum wage. Health Care Financing.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to promote an enhanced care worker minimum wage.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Section 13C of Chapter 118E of the general laws is amended after the
32	32	2second paragraph by inserting the following new paragraphs:
33	33	3 In establishing such rates of payment pursuant to the second paragraph of this section and
34	34	4in implementing rate regulations, the secretary of the executive office shall require that the
35	35	5minimum wage paid to employees of social service program providers receiving such payments
36	36	6shall be no less than 140 percent of the statewide minimum wage. When establishing rates of
37	37	7payment for social service programs, the secretary of the executive office shall adjust such rates
38	38	8of payment to ensure that the rates fully account for the cost to providers of paying such
39	39	9enhanced minimum wage.
40	40	10 Prior to establishing such rates of payment pursuant to the second paragraph of this
41	41	11section and prior to the issuance of proposed regulations, the secretary of the executive office
42	42	12shall hold hearings that are open to the public. Such public hearings shall solicit input from 2 of 4
43	43	13social service program providers, social service program workers, labor organizations
44	44	14representing social service program workers, and other community stakeholders. Concurrent
45	45	15with such public hearings and prior to establishing such rates of payment, the executive office
46	46	16shall investigate and analyze the wage rates and working conditions for employees of social
47	47	17service program providers. In conducting such public hearings and investigations, the executive
48	48	18office may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books,
49	49	19papers, and records.
50	50	20 SECTION 2. Section 4 of Chapter 19A is hereby amended by adding after Section 4D
51	51	21the following new section:
52	52	22 SECTION 4E: In establishing rates of payment for homemaker and personal care
53	53	23homemaker services pursuant to the second paragraph of section 13C of chapter 118E of the
54	54	24M.G.L. and in implementing rate regulations, the executive office shall require by that the
55	55	25minimum wage paid to employees of home care agencies providing such services shall be no less
56	56	26than 140 percent of the statewide minimum wage. When establishing rates of payment for
57	57	27homemaker and personal care homemaker services pursuant, the executive office shall adjust
58	58	28such rates to ensure that the rates fully account for the cost to providers of paying such enhanced
59	59	29minimum wage. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting consideration of other
60	60	30governmental mandates or operating costs that affect the cost of providing services pursuant to
61	61	31section 4 of chapter 19A of the General Laws.
62	62	32 Prior to establishing such rates of payment and prior to the issuance of proposed
63	63	33regulations, the executive office shall hold hearings that are open to the public. Such public
64	64	34hearings shall solicit input from homemaker and personal care homemaker service providers, 3 of 4
65	65	35homemakers, personal care homemakers, labor organizations representing such workers, and
66	66	36other community stakeholders. Concurrent with such public hearings and prior to establishing
67	67	37such rates of payment, the executive office shall investigate and analyze the wage rates and
68	68	38working conditions for homemakers and personal care homemakers. In conducting such public
69	69	39hearings and investigations, the executive office may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance
70	70	40of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.
71	71	41 SECTION 3. Section 13D of Chapter 118E of the general laws is amended after the
72	72	42second paragraph by inserting the following new paragraphs:
73	73	43 In establishing such rates for nursing homes and rest homes and in implementing rate
74	74	44regulations, the executive office shall require that the minimum wage paid to employees of
75	75	45nursing homes and rest homes receiving such payments shall be no less than 140 percent of the
76	76	46statewide minimum wage. When establishing rates of payment for nursing homes and rest
77	77	47homes, the executive office shall adjust such rates to ensure that the rates fully account for the
78	78	48cost to providers of paying such enhanced minimum wage.
79	79	49 Prior to establishing such rates for nursing homes and rest homes and prior to the
80	80	50issuance of proposed regulations, the executive office shall hold hearings that are open to the
81	81	51public. Such public hearings shall solicit input from nursing home and rest home operators,
82	82	52nursing home and rest home workers, labor organizations representing nursing home and rest
83	83	53home workers, and other community stakeholders. Concurrent with such public hearings and
84	84	54prior to establishing such rates of payment, the executive office shall investigate and analyze the
85	85	55wage rates and working conditions for employees of nursing homes and rest homes. In 4 of 4
86	86	56conducting such public hearings and investigations, the executive office may issue subpoenas to
87	87	57compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.