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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 68 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 163
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael O. Moore
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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 protecting safety net access for Massachusetts residents.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 68 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 163
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 163) of Michael O. Moore for
legislation to protect safety net access for Massachusetts residents. Children, Families and
Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 117 OF 2023-2024.]
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 protecting safety net access for Massachusetts residents.
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 5 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
2hereby amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following paragraph:-
3 Upon being notified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance
4(DCAMM) that a lease is set to expire, and by which the Department decides not to renew a
5lease or close the community service office, at least 120 days before taking steps to not renew a
6lease for or close a community service office and at least 120 days before soliciting any
7proposals for a lease for a community service office, the commissioner shall notify the local
8legislators of that region and the regional legal services of the proposed action, the community
9service office that would be affected, and the reasons for the proposed action. At the request of
10the legislature or legal services, the department shall provide testimony and data regarding its 2 of 2
11plans, including but not limited to a comparison of the current and proposed community service
12office locations for low-income households in the service area with respect to (a) transportation
13options, including the cost and frequency of public transit and travel time to and from the current
14and proposed location; (b) office hours; (c) access for seniors, persons with disabilities, persons
15who are needed to care for children or other family members; persons who are employed; (d) the
16availability of staff who speak the languages spoken by persons with limited English proficiency
17in the service area; (e) in areas where there are advisory boards the minutes showing that the
18board has been appraised of the intention to close or relocate; (f) surveys from its current
19recipients of how the proposed closure or relocation would affect them. The surveys shall be
20done in the recipients’ primary or preferred language in order to maximize participation and
21ensure equity; (g) a report of the community services, and community economic and social
22relations near the current and proposed community service office; (h) demographic and poverty
23rate data of the residents of both the current and proposed community service office location; and
24(i) other matters as requested by the said requester.