1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 279 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2147
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joseph D. McKenna
_________________
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 relative to employee references.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/7/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 279 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2147
By Representative McKenna of Sutton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2147) of
Joseph D. McKenna relative to employee reference liability. Labor and Workforce
Development.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1920 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to employee references.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 149 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is amended
2by inserting at the end of Section 52C. the following new section: --
3 SECTION 52D. (A) Unless otherwise provided by law, an employer, or an employer’s
4designee, who discloses information about a current or former employee to a prospective
5employer of the employee shall be absolutely immune from civil liability if the disclosed
6information includes any or all of the following: (1) date of employment; (2) pay level; (3) job
7description and duties; and (4) wage history. An employer who responds in writing to a written
8request concerning a former employee from a prospective employer of that employee shall be
9absolutely immune from civil liability if the disclosed information includes either or both of the
10following: (1) written employee evaluations which were conducted prior to the employee’s 2 of 2
11separation from the employer; and (2) whether the employee was voluntarily or involuntarily
12released from service and the reasons for the separation.
13 (B) This section shall apply to causes of action accruing on and after the effective date of
14this act.