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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2397 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2140
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
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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 creating a special legislative commission to study barriers to job retention for low-
income workers.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2397 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2140
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2140) of
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf for an investigation by a special commission (including members
of the General Court) relative to barriers to job retention for low-income workers. Labor and
Workforce Development.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act creating a special legislative commission to study barriers to job retention for low-
income workers.
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. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, there shall
2be a special commission established to conduct a study and make recommendations on the
3barriers faced by low-income workers to finding and maintaining jobs in the commonwealth. The
4commission shall consist of 17 members, as follows: the house and senate chairs of the joint
5committee on labor and workforce development, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of
6executive office of labor and workforce development or their designee; the secretary of the
7executive office of transportation or their designee; the secretary of the executive office of
8economic development or their designee; the director of the department of transitional assistance
9or their designee; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services or their
10designee; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 2 members
11appointed by the president of the senate; 6 persons appointed by the co-chairs, 2 of whom shall 2 of 2
12be members of the labor community, 2 of whom shall be members of the business community;
13and 2 of whom shall have expertise working with low-income workers.
14 (b) The commission shall examine and make recommendations on topics including, but
15not limited to: (i) barriers that exist in Massachusetts that prevent low-income workers from
16finding and retaining jobs with sustainable wages; (ii) strategies that the commonwealth could
17employ that would help to address barriers to job retention for low-income workers; (iii)
18Massachusetts laws and regulations that are currently in place, or could be put in place, that
19assist or hamper this population from maintaining jobs with a sustainable wage; (iv) holistic and
20wraparound service approaches and programs that the commonwealth could explore to prevent a
21fragmented and inefficient response to addressing these barriers; and (v) the financial
22repercussions of and recommended formulaic assistance to mitigate the “cliff effect” in which
23low-income persons securing minimal income increases suddenly become ineligible for critical
24benefits programs that are needed to support themselves and their families.
25 (c) The commission may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the public
26to gather information. The commission may involve other experts, stakeholders and members of
27the public in its work through listening and working group sessions or whatever other
28mechanisms the commission chooses.
29 (d) The commission shall file its recommendations, including any drafts of legislation or
30regulations necessary to carry out its recommendations, not later than March 1, 2027.