Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S151 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. 1378 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 151
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Joan B. Lovely
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 establishing a diaper benefits pilot program.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joan B. LovelySecond EssexMark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth1/24/2025 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1378 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 151
18	18	By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 151) of Joan B. Lovely and Mark C.
19	19	Montigny for legislation to establish a diaper benefits pilot program. Children, Families and
20	20	Persons with Disabilities.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 104 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act establishing a diaper benefits pilot program.
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 Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
32	32	2amended by inserting, after section 2J, the following new section:-
33	33	3 Section 2K. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
34	34	4meanings unless context clearly requires otherwise:
35	35	5 “Commissioner,” the commissioner of the department of public health.
36	36	6 “Department,” the department of public health.
37	37	7 “Fund,” the diaper benefits trust fund. 2 of 3
38	38	8 “Organization,” an entity, including but not limited to, that acts in whole or in part as a
39	39	9diaper bank, diaper distribution organization, food bank or food pantry.
40	40	10 “Pilot program,” an organization or organizations receiving funds from the department to
41	41	11provide diapers to low-income families with diaper-wearing infants and children. Organizations
42	42	12may collaborate to maximize distribution in their respective regions.
43	43	13 (b) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to
44	44	14address diaper insufficiency that shall be administered by the commissioner. The fund shall be
45	45	15credited with: (i) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court
46	46	16and specifically designated to the fund; (ii) interest earned on such revenues; and (iii) funds from
47	47	17public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations to further the pilot program.
48	48	18Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation, and any money
49	49	19remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.
50	50	20 (c) The department shall distribute resources from the fund by issuing a request for
51	51	21proposal through which an organization or organizations may apply. Funds received shall be
52	52	22used for one or more of the following purposes: (i) acquiring diapers, (ii) storing diapers, (iii)
53	53	23distributing diapers, (iv) organizing diaper drives, or (v) marketing the pilot program.
54	54	24 The department shall grant funds based on the demonstrated capacity and need of the
55	55	25applicant. The department shall fund up to 12 applicants no more than 2 of which shall be from
56	56	26the western region of the commonwealth; no more than 2 of which shall be from the central
57	57	27region of the commonwealth; no more than 2 of which shall be from the eastern region of the
58	58	28commonwealth; no more than 2 of which shall be from the southeastern region of the 3 of 3
59	59	29commonwealth; no more than 2 of which shall be from Cape Cod or the Islands; and no more
60	60	30than 2 of which shall be from the Merrimack valley.
61	61	31 Amounts received from private sources shall be approved by the commissioner of the
62	62	32department and subject to review before being deposited in the fund to ensure that pledged funds
63	63	33are not accompanied by conditions, explicit or implicit, on distributing diapers.
64	64	34 (d) Not later than one year after the implementation of each pilot program said
65	65	35department shall provide a report to the joint committee on children, families and persons with
66	66	36disabilities and to the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall include,
67	67	37but not be limited to: (i) the number of children receiving diapers through the pilot program; (ii)
68	68	38the number of households receiving diapers through the pilot program; (iii) the number of
69	69	39diapers distributed through the pilot program to families in each region; (iv) an explanation of
70	70	40the organization's distribution process and allocation determination; (v) the sources and the
71	71	41amounts remaining in the fund; (vi) if and how the pilot program were able to leverage additional
72	72	42support; (vii) the amounts distributed and the purpose of expenditures from the fund; and (viii)
73	73	43the advisability of expanding the pilot program.