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SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 17
Senate, February 12, 2025 -- Text of the Senate amendment to the House Bill making
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations
and for certain other activities and projects (House, No. 58) (being the text of Senate document
numbered 16, printed as amended).
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
1 SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act
2and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2025, the sums set forth in section 2A are hereby
3appropriated from the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the
4acts of 2021, as amended by section 4 of chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless specifically
5designated otherwise in this act or in those appropriation acts, for the several purposes and
6subject to the conditions specified in this act or in those appropriation acts, and subject to the
7laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. These
8sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the
9purposes of those items. These sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June
1030, 2026.
11 SECTION 2A. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to
12provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations and to meet certain requirements
13of law, the sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the Transitional Escrow
14Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, as amended by section 4 of
15chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless specifically designated otherwise in this section, for the 2 of 13
16several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section, and subject to the laws
17regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Except as
18otherwise stated, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June 30,
192026.
20 1599-2625For purposes related to supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused
21families in the commonwealth; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance may
22transfer funds from this item to state agencies as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 of the General
23Laws; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance shall notify the house
24and senate committees on ways and means not less than 14 days prior to any such transfer of
25funds from this item; provided further, that temporary respite sites shall be available to eligible
26families upon arrival in the commonwealth, subject to appropriation, rules, regulations and
27availability, for a period of not more than 30 days, subject to any extensions upon written
28certification by the secretary of housing and livable communities; provided further, that
29temporary respite sites shall be available for a period of not more than 30 days to families who
30appear eligible but are unable to provide sufficient documentation as required by clause (iv) of
31subsection (b) of section 6, subject to appropriation, rules, regulations and availability; provided
32further, that temporary respite sites shall only be available to families who verify their identity
33and provide information sufficient to comply with paragraph (C 1/2) of section 30 of chapter
3423B of the General Laws; provided further, that the length of stay at a temporary respite site shall
35constitute a benefit received under the emergency housing assistance program for the purpose of
36calculating length of stay limit under subparagraph (3) of paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said
37chapter 23B; provided further, that placement in a temporary respite site shall not make a family
38ineligible for the bridge shelter track after proving eligibility pursuant to section 6; provided 3 of 13
39further, that the executive office of housing and livable communities shall work with
40resettlement agencies to coordinate the provision of services to immigrant and refugee families
41and pregnant women in temporary respite centers; provided further, that the executive office
42shall continue to facilitate the provision of services to families and pregnant women in temporary
43respite centers; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item may be expended for any
44purpose under item 1599-0514 of section 2A of chapter 77 of the acts of 2023, item 1599-1213
45of section 2A of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024 and items 7004-0101, 7004-0108 and 7004-9316
46of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024; provided further, that the secretary of
47administration and finance may transfer funds from this item to the Workforce Competitiveness
48Trust Fund, established in section 2WWW of chapter 29 of the General Laws, for work programs
49targeted at supporting the populations served by this item; and provided further, that reporting
50requirements under said item 1599-0514 of said section 2A of said chapter 77 and said item
511599-1213 of said section 2A of said chapter 88 shall apply to this item………….$425,000,000
52 SECTION 3. Section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as most recently amended
53by section 3 of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by inserting after
54paragraph (C) the following paragraph:-
55 (C 1/2)(1) The executive office shall require each individual adult applicant or
56beneficiary to disclose on their initial or subsequent application for emergency housing
57assistance benefits all convictions or pending charges for serious crimes, as defined by the
58executive office, whether in the commonwealth or another jurisdiction. The executive office
59shall not require prior convictions that have been sealed or expunged to be disclosed. An adult
60applicant or beneficiary who fails to disclose convictions or pending charges for serious crimes, 4 of 13
61as defined by the executive office, consistent with this paragraph shall not be eligible for benefits
62and any existing benefits shall be terminated.
63 (2) The executive office shall obtain criminal offender record information from the
64department of criminal justice information services for each individual adult applicant or
65beneficiary prior to placement into the emergency housing assistance program. An adult
66applicant or beneficiary who fails to consent to the executive office obtaining such criminal
67offender record information consistent with this paragraph shall not be eligible for benefits and
68any existing benefits shall be terminated. The executive office shall establish, through
69regulations, protocols on information received from the department of criminal justice
70information services.
71 (3) The executive office shall promulgate regulations placing limitations or exclusions on
72individuals found to have convictions or pending charges for serious crimes, as defined by the
73office by regulation.
74 SECTION 4. Paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said chapter 23B, inserted by section 3
75of chapter 88 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out subparagraphs (3) to (9),
76inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following 6 subparagraphs:-
77 (3) A family with children or a pregnant woman with no other children that receives
78benefits through the emergency housing assistance program shall, subject to appropriation and
79rules, regulations and availability, remain eligible for the program for not more than 6
80consecutive months.
81 (4) A family with children or pregnant woman with no other children that receives
82benefits through the emergency housing assistance program may receive extensions to the length 5 of 13
83of stay limit under subparagraph (3) upon written certification of hardship by the secretary;
84provided, however, that such hardship waivers shall be granted by the secretary for a family with
85an individual who: (i) is qualified as a veteran under clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4
86who is not enrolled in services specifically tailored to veterans, including, but not limited to,
87those administered by the executive office of veterans services; (ii) is at imminent risk of harm
88due to domestic violence; (iii) is documented as having a disability; (iv) has imminent pending
89placement in housing for the entire family receiving benefits under the emergency housing
90assistance program; (v) has a high-risk pregnancy, imminent pregnancy due date or has recently
91given birth; (vi) is under the age of 6; or (vii) satisfies any additional criteria the secretary of
92housing and livable communities deems necessary.
93 (5) The executive office shall limit the number of families with children and pregnant
94women with no other children to be terminated from the emergency housing assistance program
95in any week due to reaching the length of stay limit established under subparagraph (3). The
96executive office shall provide notice not less than 90 days prior to the termination of benefits for
97each family and pregnant woman.
98 (6) The executive office shall promulgate regulations or guidance for eligibility which
99shall: (i) establish procedures for the termination of benefits pursuant to this paragraph, including
100for a hardship waiver under subparagraph (4); and (ii) allow a family with children or a pregnant
101woman with no other children to reapply for the emergency housing assistance program;
102provided, however, that eligibility determinations when reapplying for the program shall be
103consistent with the guidance issued by the secretary of housing and livable communities. 6 of 13
104 (7) The executive office shall provide printed handouts to families with children and
105pregnant women receiving benefits through the emergency housing assistance program, which
106shall include, but shall not be limited to, information about: (i) authorized training programs; (ii)
107approved training programs; (iii) food resources, including food pantries; (iv) services offered by
108resettlement agencies; (v) other housing programs; (vi) other nonprofit or available resources the
109executive office deems necessary or helpful; and (vii) length of stay limits and extension process.
110All written information shall be translated into multiple languages and shall be available on the
111executive office’s website.
112 (8) This paragraph shall apply during any period in which the secretary of housing and
113livable communities has determined that the shelter system unable to meet all current and
114projected demand for shelter from eligible families considering the facts and circumstances then
115existing in the commonwealth.
116 SECTION 5. Said section 30 of said chapter 23B, as most recently amended by said
117section 3 of said chapter 88, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-
118 (H) The executive office shall require each adult applicant or beneficiary that joins a
119family receiving emergency housing assistance to provide notice to the executive office of any
120addition to the family and the executive office shall require a complete review of all information
121necessary to verify the individual’s eligibility pursuant to this section and 760 CMR 67.00 or
122successor regulations. An adult applicant or beneficiary who fails to report to the executive
123office for complete verification of requirements pursuant to this section or 760 CMR 67.00 or
124successor regulations shall not be eligible for benefits and any existing benefits shall be
125terminated. 7 of 13
126 SECTION 6. Item 1599-1213 of section 2A of said chapter 88 is hereby amended by
127inserting after the word “equity” the following words:- ; provided further, that a portion of such
128funds shall be expended to rapidly rehouse families residing in temporary respite sites into
129permanent, stable housing.
130 SECTION 7. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
131following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
132 “Emergency housing assistance program”, the program of emergency housing assistance
133program under section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws and funded by item 7004-0101 of
134section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024.
135 “Executive office”, the executive office of housing and livable communities.
136 (b) Notwithstanding item 7004-0101 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, the
137executive office shall:
138 (i) require families whose income exceeds 200 per cent of the federal poverty level for 4
139consecutive months to be deemed ineligible for the emergency housing assistance program;
140 (ii) require that all emergency housing assistance program benefits be provided to
141families consisting entirely of residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United
142States or persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in
143the United States under the color of law, except in cases where a child in the family is a citizen
144of the United States, a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence or a person permanently
145residing in the United States under color of law; 8 of 13
146 (iii) to the extent practicable, make best efforts to place a family receiving benefits under
147the emergency housing assistance program within 20 miles of the household’s home community;
148 (iv) verify, for each emergency housing assistance program applicant, their: (A) identity;
149(B) Massachusetts residency pursuant to clause (v); (C) relationship status; (D) pregnancy status;
150and (E) other eligibility requirements under said item 7004-0101 of said section 2 of said chapter
151140 and pursuant to 760 CMR 67.00 or any successor regulations, through third-party
152verification or otherwise, prior to placement in an emergency shelter; provided, however, that the
153executive office shall not be required to provide shelter to families who are unable to provide
154required verifications in this section prior to placement; provided further, that the executive
155office may offer a case-specific waiver for exigent circumstances and at the discretion of the
156executive office; and provided further, that the executive office shall establish, through
157regulations, a criteria for case-specific waivers, which shall include, but not be limited to,
158waivers for: (1) an imminent threat of domestic violence; (2) families with a family member who
159has a documented disability; (3) families with a family member who has a high-risk pregnancy
160or who has recently given birth; and (4) families with a qualified veteran under clause Forty-third
161of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws who is not enrolled in services specifically tailored
162to veterans, including, but not limited to, those administered by the executive office of veterans
163services; and
164 (v) require each applicant for benefits under the emergency housing assistance program
165to establish residency in the commonwealth; provided, however, that an applicant’s family shall
166be required to show an intent to remain in the commonwealth, which may be shown through
167sources of verification accepted by the executive office; provided further, that the executive
168office shall promulgate regulations on sources of acceptable verification which shall include, but 9 of 13
169shall not be limited to, documentation showing a person is enrolled with MassHealth,
170documentation showing a person receives public benefits in the commonwealth, a bill or other
171insurance documentation with an address, an email, letter or statement from a licensed health
172care worker on office letterhead or office email stating that the person resides in the
173commonwealth or a photo identification issued by the commonwealth.
174 (c) An applicant who appears to be eligible for shelter based on statements provided by
175the family and any other information in the possession of the executive office but who need
176additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the executive office
177shall be placed on a waitlist for emergency housing assistance; provided, however, that each
178adult in the family of applicants shall provide proof of identity and provide information sufficient
179to comply with paragraph (C 1/2) of section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws to be placed
180on said waitlist; and provided further, that an applicant on the waitlist shall be eligible for
181immediate placement in a temporary respite site subject to appropriation, availability and any
182relevant rules and regulations.
183 SECTION 8. Notwithstanding section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, for the
184period of December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2026, inclusive, the total capacity of the
185emergency housing assistance program established pursuant to said section 30 of said chapter
18623B shall not exceed 4,000 families.
187 SECTION 9. The executive office for administration and finance shall submit a biweekly
188report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the house and senate
189committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) reporting under item
1901599-0514 of chapter 77 of the acts of 2023; (ii) reporting required under section 19 of chapter 10 of 13
19188 of the acts of 2024; (iii) the total caseload of the emergency assistance housing program,
192delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter track; (iv) the number of families who have
193applied for emergency assistance housing in the previous 14 days, delineated by rapid shelter
194track and bridge shelter track; (v) the number of families who were unable to provide the
195required verification during application as established under section 6 in the previous 14 days;
196(vi) the number of families who were unable to provide the required verifications but were
197granted a case-specific waiver by the secretary of housing and livable communities in the
198previous 14 days; (vii) the number of families on the waitlist for services under the emergency
199assistance housing program, delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter track; (viii) a
200description of the services provided to such families, delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge
201shelter track; (ix) the total number of families who have exited the emergency assistance housing
202program in the previous 14 days, delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter track and
203delineating length of stay in emergency shelter of each family, with information on housing
204outcomes for each family including, but not limited to, exits to stable housing, transitional
205housing, a homeless shelter or homelessness; (x) a summary of resources, programs and
206assistance, including, but not limited to, HomeBASE, used by families who exited shelter in the
207previous 14 days, delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter track, and including the
208length of time between when families apply for assistance and when they are approved, with
209information on housing outcomes for each family including, but not limited to, exits to stable
210housing, transitional housing, a homeless shelter or homelessness; (xi) the total number of
211families who exited emergency shelter in the previous 14 days due to the length of stay limits,
212delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter track, and including information on resources
213or supports for those families exiting; (xii) the total number of families on the waitlist who have 11 of 13
214been placed in emergency shelter in the previous 14 days, delineated by rapid shelter track and
215bridge shelter track; (xiii) the total number of individuals in the emergency assistance housing
216program that are employed; (xiv) the average and median length of stay for families currently in
217the emergency assistance housing program, delineated by rapid shelter track and bridge shelter
218track; (xv) the total number of families who have applied for a hardship waiver established under
219section 4 and were granted a hardship waiver by the secretary of housing and livable
220communities in the previous 14 days; (xvi) the total number of hotel and motel rooms in use in
221the previous 14 days, delineated by municipality; (xvii) the total number of hotel and motel
222rooms that have been phased out of emergency shelter use in the previous 14 days, delineated by
223municipality; (xviii) a summary of the reasons for which families within the emergency housing
224assistance program have become homeless, including whether they had previously applied for
225other forms of housing assistance and were delayed or denied in receiving such assistance
226immediately before becoming homeless, and the total number of families attributed to each
227reason; (xix) the weekly average per-family cost associated with housing families in the
228emergency housing assistance program; and (xx) the total estimated cost of the emergency
229assistance housing program for fiscal year 2026 based on projected changes to estimated
230caseload, capacity and other policy changes under this act.
231 SECTION 10. The executive office for administration and finance, in consultation with
232the executive office of housing and livable communities, shall submit a report not later than 60
233days following the effective date of this act to the clerks of the senate and house of
234representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means detailing a plan to
235phase out the use of hotels and motels for emergency housing assistance not later than December
23631, 2025. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) the total number of hotel and 12 of 13
237motel rooms to be phased out; (ii) the planned number of hotel and motel rooms to be phased out
238each month; (iii) the planned date by which phasing out hotel and motel rooms is to be
239completed; (iv) the methodology to identify and prioritize hotel and motel rooms to phase out;
240(v) the communication protocols or plans to inform stakeholders of changes and support families
241exiting hotels; (vi) the total estimated savings due to phasing out hotel and motel rooms; and (vii)
242the monthly estimated savings due to phasing out hotel and motel rooms.
243 SECTION 11. Not later than 45 days following the effective date of this act, the
244executive office of housing and livable communities, in coordination with the executive office of
245health and human services, the Massachusetts interagency council on housing and homelessness
246and family homelessness service providers, shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and
247house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means that shall
248include, but not be limited to: (i) detailed information on the most effective and cost-effective
249state programs and investments for the prevention of family homelessness; (ii) strategic and cost-
250effective changes to the emergency housing assistance program that prevent homelessness and
251promote stable rehousing; and (iii) the impact of various benefit levels for programs, including,
252but not limited to, the residential assistance for families in transition program and the
253HomeBASE rental assistance program, on the prevention of family homelessness and on
254ensuring stable housing for families transitioning out of the emergency housing assistance
255program.
256 SECTION 12. The executive office of housing and livable communities, in coordination
257with the department of state police, shall study the feasibility of conducting a background check
258through the National Crime Information Center for each adult applicant or beneficiary placed in
259the emergency housing assistance program. The study shall include, but not be limited to, 13 of 13
260information on: (i) federal approvals necessary to conduct such background checks; (ii) projected
261costs for conducting such background checks; and (iii) any impediments to conducting such
262background checks, as determined by the executive office in consultation with the department of
263state police in the course of the study. The executive office of housing and livable communities
264shall submit a report summarizing the results of the study to the clerks of the senate and house of
265representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than March 31,
2662025.
267 SECTION 13. Not later than March 31, 2025, the executive office of housing and livable
268communities, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall create,
269enforce and from time to time update a statewide safety plan for the emergency housing
270assistance program established in section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws. The executive
271office of housing and livable communities shall make the plan publicly available on its website.
272 SECTION 14. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any funds
273expended after the effective date of this act for the purpose of providing services through or
274related to families and pregnant women served by the emergency housing assistance program
275pursuant to section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws shall be subject to a competitive
276bidding process.