Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H58 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 8
2	2	FILED ON: 2/7/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 58
4	4	House bill No. 57, as amended and passed to be engrossed by the House. February 6, 2025.
5	5	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
6	6	_______________
7	7	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
8	8	(2025-2026)
9	9	_______________
10	10	An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing
11	11	appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.
12	12	Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purposes, which are
13	13	to make supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2025 and to make certain changes in law,
14	14	each of which is immediately necessary to carry out those appropriations or to accomplish other
15	15	important public purposes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for
16	16	the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
17	17	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
18	18	of the same, as follows:
19	19	1 SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act
20	20	2and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2025, the sums set forth in section 2A are hereby
21	21	3appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise in this act or in
22	22	4those appropriation acts, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this
23	23	5act or in those appropriation acts, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public
24	24	6funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts
25	25	7previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of those items. These sums shall be
26	26	8made available through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. 2 of 8
27	27	9 SECTION 2A. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to
28	28	10provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, and to meet certain requirements
29	29	11of law, the sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Fund or the
30	30	12Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, as amended
31	31	13by section 4 of chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless specifically designated otherwise in this
32	32	14section, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section, and
33	33	15subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30,
34	34	162025. Except as otherwise stated, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year
35	35	17ending June 30, 2026.
36	36	18 1599-2625For purposes related to supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused
37	37	19families in Massachusetts; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance may transfer
38	38	20funds from this item to state agencies as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 of the General Laws;
39	39	21provided further, that temporary respite sites shall be available to families upon arrival in the
40	40	22commonwealth for a period of not more than 30 days; provided further, that funds appropriated
41	41	23in this item may be expended for any of the purposes described in item 1599-0514 of chapter 77
42	42	24of the acts of 2023, item 1599-1213 of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024, and items 7004-0101,
43	43	257004-0108, and 7004-9316 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024; provided further, that the secretary
44	44	26of administration and finance may transfer funds from this item to the Workforce
45	45	27Competitiveness Trust Fund, established in section 2WWW of chapter 29 of the General Laws,
46	46	28for work programs targeted at supporting the populations served by this item; and provided
47	47	29further, that reporting requirements under said items 1599-0514 and 1599-1213 shall apply to
48	48	30this item as well…………………………………………………………………..….$425,000,000
49	49	31 Transitional Escrow Fund……………………….100% 3 of 8
50	50	32 SECTION 3. Section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
51	51	33Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (C) the following paragraph:-
52	52	34 (C 1/2)(1) The executive office shall require each individual adult applicant or
53	53	35beneficiary to disclose on their initial or subsequent application for emergency housing
54	54	36assistance benefits all prior criminal convictions, whether in the commonwealth or another
55	55	37jurisdiction. The executive office shall not require prior convictions that have been sealed or
56	56	38expunged to be disclosed. Any adult applicant or beneficiary who fails to disclose prior criminal
57	57	39convictions consistent with this paragraph shall not be eligible for benefits and any existing
58	58	40benefits shall be terminated.
59	59	41 (2) The executive office shall obtain criminal offender record information from the
60	60	42department of criminal justice information services for each individual adult applicant or
61	61	43beneficiary prior to placement into the emergency housing assistance program. The executive
62	62	44office shall establish, through regulations, protocols on information received from the
63	63	45department of criminal justice information services.
64	64	46 SECTION 4. Paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said chapter 23B, inserted by section 3
65	65	47of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out subparagraphs (3) through
66	66	48(9), inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following 6 subparagraphs:-
67	67	49 (3) A family with children or a pregnant woman with no other children that receives
68	68	50benefits through the emergency housing assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and
69	69	51rules and regulations, remain eligible for the program for not more than 6 consecutive months.
70	70	52 (4) Any family or pregnant woman with no other children may receive extensions upon
71	71	53written certification of hardship by the secretary; provided, however, that hardship waivers shall 4 of 8
72	72	54be granted by the secretary for a family with an individual who is: (i) qualified as a veteran under
73	73	55clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 who is not enrolled in services specifically tailored to
74	74	56veterans, including, but not limited to, those administered by the executive office of veterans
75	75	57services; (ii) under the age of 6; (iii) at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence; or (iv)
76	76	58documented as having a disability.
77	77	59 (5) The executive office shall limit the number of families and pregnant women with no
78	78	60other children to be terminated from the emergency housing assistance program in any week due
79	79	61to reaching the durational limit established in subparagraph (3). The executive office shall
80	80	62provide notice not less than 90 days prior to the termination of benefits for each family and
81	81	63pregnant woman.
82	82	64 (6) The executive office shall promulgate regulations or guidance for eligibility which
83	83	65shall: (a) establish procedures for the termination of benefits pursuant to this paragraph,
84	84	66including for a hardship waiver under subparagraph (4); and (b) allow a family with children or a
85	85	67pregnant woman with no other children to reapply for the emergency housing assistance
86	86	68program; provided, that eligibility determinations when reapplying for the program shall be
87	87	69consistent with the guidance issued by the secretary of housing and livable communities on
88	88	70October 31, 2023, entitled “Emergency Assistance Program Guidance on Waitlist and
89	89	71Prioritization Procedures pursuant to Capacity Declaration dated October 31, 2023” pursuant to
90	90	72760 CMR 67.10, as inserted by emergency regulations issued by the executive office of housing
91	91	73and livable communities on October 31, 2023.
92	92	74 (7) The executive office shall provide printed handouts to families with children and
93	93	75pregnant women receiving benefits through the emergency housing assistance program which 5 of 8
94	94	76shall include, but shall not be limited to, information about: (a) authorized training programs; (b)
95	95	77approved training programs; (c) food resources, including food pantries; (d) services offered by
96	96	78resettlement agencies; (e) other housing programs; (f) other nonprofit or available resources the
97	97	79executive office deems necessary or helpful; and (g) duration of stay limit and extension process.
98	98	80All written information shall be translated into multiple languages and shall be available on the
99	99	81executive office’s website.
100	100	82 (8) This paragraph shall apply during any period in which the secretary of housing and
101	101	83livable communities has determined that the shelter system is no longer able to meet all current
102	102	84and projected demand for shelter from eligible families considering the facts and circumstances
103	103	85then existing in the commonwealth.
104	104	86 SECTION 5. Said section 30 of said chapter 23B, as amended by said chapter 88, is
105	105	87hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-
106	106	88 (H) The executive office shall require each adult applicant or beneficiary that joins a
107	107	89family that is receiving emergency assistance benefits to provide notice to the executive office of
108	108	90any addition to the family and the executive office shall require a complete review of all
109	109	91information necessary to verify the individual’s eligibility pursuant to this section and 760 CMR
110	110	9267.00 or successor regulations. Any adult applicant or beneficiary who fails to report to the
111	111	93executive office for complete verification of requirements pursuant to this section or 760 CMR
112	112	9467.00 or successor regulations shall not be eligible for benefits and any existing benefits shall be
113	113	95terminated.
114	114	96 SECTION 5A. Section 19 of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking
115	115	97out the words “and (xvi) any efforts undertaken by the executive office for administration and 6 of 8
116	116	98finance to secure and maximize federal support and reimbursement for funds spent on the
117	117	99emergency housing assistance program” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
118	118	100(xvi) any efforts undertaken by the executive office for administration and finance to secure and
119	119	101maximize federal support and reimbursement for funds spent on the emergency housing
120	120	102assistance program; and (xvii) the total weekly number of families who have exited the
121	121	103emergency housing assistance program by durational limit termination.
122	122	104 SECTION 6. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the
123	123	105context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
124	124	106 “Emergency housing assistance program”, a program of emergency housing assistance
125	125	107pursuant to section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws.
126	126	108 “Executive office”, the executive office of housing and livable communities.
127	127	109 (b) Notwithstanding item 7004-0101 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, the
128	128	110executive office shall:
129	129	111 (1) require families whose income exceeds 200 per cent of the federal poverty level for 3
130	130	112consecutive months to be deemed no longer eligible for the emergency housing assistance
131	131	113program;
132	132	114 (2) require that all benefits under said item 7004-0101 shall only be provided to families
133	133	115consisting entirely of residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United States or
134	134	116persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under the
135	135	117color of law in the United States, except in cases where a child in the family is a citizen of the
136	136	118United States, a person lawfully admitted or a person permanently residing under color of law; 7 of 8
137	137	119 (3) to the extent practicable, make best efforts to place a family within 20 miles of the
138	138	120household’s home community;
139	139	121 (4) verify for each applicant: (a) identity; (b) Massachusetts residency pursuant to
140	140	122paragraph (5); (c) relationship status; (d) pregnancy status; and (e) other eligibility requirements
141	141	123in said item 7004-0101 and pursuant to 760 CMR 67.00 or any successor regulations, through
142	142	124third-party verification or otherwise, prior to placement in an emergency shelter. The executive
143	143	125office shall not be required to provide shelter to families who are unable to provide required
144	144	126verifications in this section prior to placement; provided, however, that the executive office may
145	145	127offer a case-specific waiver for exigent circumstances and at the discretion of the executive
146	146	128office; and provided further, that the executive office shall define through regulations said case-
147	147	129specific waivers which shall include, but shall not be limited to, an imminent threat of domestic
148	148	130violence, families with a child under the age of 6, families with a family member who has a
149	149	131documented disability and a qualified veteran under clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4
150	150	132who are not enrolled in services specifically tailored to veterans, including, but not limited to,
151	151	133those administered by the executive office of veterans services; and
152	152	134 (5) require each applicant for benefits under the emergency housing assistance program
153	153	135to establish Massachusetts residency, an applicant shall be required to show an intent to remain
154	154	136in Massachusetts, which may be shown through sources of verification accepted by the executive
155	155	137office. The executive office shall promulgate regulations on sources of acceptable verification
156	156	138which shall include, but shall not be limited to, documentation showing a person receives
157	157	139MassHealth, documentation showing a person receives public benefits in Massachusetts, a bill or
158	158	140other insurance documentation with an address, email, letter or statement from a licensed health 8 of 8
159	159	141care worker on office letterhead or office email stating that the person lives in Massachusetts or a
160	160	142Massachusetts photo identification.
161	161	143 SECTION 7. Notwithstanding section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, beginning
162	162	144December 31, 2025 through December 31, 2026, the total capacity of the emergency housing
163	163	145assistance program established pursuant to said section 30 of said chapter 23B shall not exceed
164	164	1464,000 families.
165	165	147 SECTION 8. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any funds
166	166	148expended for the purpose of providing services through or related to families and pregnant
167	167	149women served by the emergency housing assistance program pursuant to section 30 of chapter
168	168	15023B of the General Laws shall be subject to a competitive bidding process.