Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2085 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 212 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2085
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bruce E. Tarr
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 to improve long-term care staffing and dignity for caregivers.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 15
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 212 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2085
18	18	By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2085) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
19	19	to improve long-term care staffing and dignity for caregivers through training, tuition
20	20	reimbursements, tax credits and other programs. Revenue.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 1952 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 to improve long-term care staffing and dignity for caregivers.
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 SECTION 1. Chapter 23 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
32	32	2is hereby amended by inserting after section 9U the following 2 sections:-
33	33	3 Section 9V. The executive office of labor and workforce development, through the
34	34	4Commonwealth Corporation, shall establish a grant program for nursing facility supervisory and
35	35	5leadership training. The program shall include, but not be limited to, covering the cost of nursing
36	36	6facility worker participation in evidence-based supervisory training for the express purpose of
37	37	7improving staff satisfaction, retaining staff and reducing turnover.
38	38	8 Section 9W. The Commonwealth Corporation shall, subject to appropriation, establish an
39	39	9extended care career ladder grant program, consistent with section 410 of chapter 159 of the acts 2 of 15
40	40	10of 2000. The Commonwealth Corporation shall make grants available for certified nurses' aides,
41	41	11home health aides, homemakers, personal care attendants, and other entry-level workers in long-
42	42	12term care. The grants may include English language training, training in other languages and
43	43	13adult basic education programs to improve quality of care and improve direct care worker access
44	44	14to and participation in career ladder training. The length of such grants shall not exceed a period
45	45	15of 3 years. The Commonwealth Corporation shall submit quarterly reports to the house and
46	46	16senate committees on ways and means on said grant program including, but not limited to, the
47	47	17number of grants awarded, the amount of each grant, a description of the career ladder programs,
48	48	18changes in care-giving and workplace practices that have occurred and their impact on quality of
49	49	19care and worker retention and the certificates, degrees or professional status attained by each
50	50	20participating employee. The administrative and program-management costs for the
51	51	21implementation of said grant program shall not exceed 4 per cent of the amount of the grant
52	52	22program, including funding for technical assistance and evaluation.
53	53	23 SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
54	54	24inserting after section 4O the following section:-
55	55	25 Section 4P. The department shall, subject to appropriation, establish a tuition
56	56	26reimbursement program for certified nursing assistant training. The department shall reimburse
57	57	27for the costs of certified nursing assistant training or competency, provided that: (i) the costs
58	58	28have been incurred for an approved certified nursing assistant training program; (ii) the costs
59	59	29have been actually paid by the certified nursing assistant from their own personal funds; and (iii)
60	60	30individuals have begun employment as a certified nursing assistant in a licensed nursing facility
61	61	31within 12 months of completing the training program, including passing the competency testing. 3 of 15
62	62	32 SECTION 3. Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
63	63	33Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (t) the following new
64	64	34subsection:- (u)(1) As used in this subsection, the following words shall have the following
65	65	35meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
66	66	36 "Activities of daily living", everyday functions and activities, which individuals usually
67	67	37do without help, including, but not limited to, bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and
68	68	38transferring.
69	69	39 "Eligible family member", an individual who (1) is at least 18 years of age during a
70	70	40taxable year, (2) requires assistance with at least one activity of daily living and (3) qualifies as a
71	71	41dependent, spouse, parent or other relation by blood or marriage, including an in-law,
72	72	42grandparent, grandchild, stepparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew of the family caregiver.
73	73	43 “Evaluation year”, the year in which an evaluation of the tax credit is to be complete. The
74	74	44evaluation year shall be every 5 years after the effective date of this subsection.
75	75	45 "Family caregiver", an individual who is a resident taxpayer for the taxable year and had
76	76	46eligible expenditures, as described in paragraph (3) of this subsection, with respect to 1 or more
77	77	47eligible family members during the taxable year. In the case of a joint return, the term includes
78	78	48the individual and the individual's spouse. The family caregiver claiming the credit must have a
79	79	49Massachusetts adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a
80	80	50couple and incur uncompensated expenses directly related to the care of an eligible family
81	81	51member who is an adult.
82	82	52 (2) A taxpayer who is a family caregiver is eligible to receive for a taxable year is equal
83	83	53to a refundable credit against the taxes imposed by this chapter. The credit shall be equal to 100 4 of 15
84	84	54per cent of the eligible expenditures incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year, with a
85	85	55maximum allowable credit of $1,500.
86	86	56 (3) Expenditures eligible to be claimed for the tax credit include the costs associated
87	87	57with: (i) the improvement or alteration to the family caregiver's primary residence to permit the
88	88	58eligible family member to remain mobile, safe, and independent; (ii) the purchase or lease of
89	89	59equipment that is necessary to assist an eligible family member in 2 carrying out one or more
90	90	60activities of daily living; and (iii) other goods, services or supports that assist the family
91	91	61caregiver in providing care to an eligible family member, such as expenditures related to hiring a
92	92	62home care aide or personal care attendant, respite care, adult day health, transportation, legal and
93	93	63financial services and assistive technology.
94	94	64 (4) No taxpayer shall be entitled to claim a tax credit under this subsection for the same
95	95	65eligible expenditures claimed by another taxpayer. The total amount of tax credits claimed by
96	96	66family caregivers shall not exceed $1,500 for the same eligible family member. If two or more
97	97	67family caregivers claim tax credits for the same eligible family member, the total of which
98	98	68exceeds $1,500, the total amount of the credit allowed shall be allocated in amounts
99	99	69proportionate to each eligible taxpayer’s share of the total amount of the eligible expenditures for
100	100	70the eligible family member.
101	101	71 (5) A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit under this section for expenses incurred in
102	102	72carrying out general household maintenance activities, including painting, plumbing, electrical
103	103	73repairs or exterior maintenance, provided, however, that home modifications to accommodate
104	104	74that person receiving care and such expenses must be directly related to assisting the family
105	105	75caregiver in providing care to an eligible family member are allowable. 5 of 15
106	106	76 (6) The commissioner of the department of revenue shall promulgate rules and
107	107	77regulations relative to the administration and enforcement of this subsection.
108	108	78 (7) The commissioner shall annually, not later than September 1, file a report with the
109	109	79house and senate committees on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on revenue
110	110	80and the chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs identifying, by community, the total amount
111	111	81of tax credits claimed and the total number of tax filers who received the tax credit for the
112	112	82preceding fiscal year.
113	113	83 (8) On or before May 31 of the year before the evaluation year, there shall be established
114	114	84a committee entitled the Caregiver Tax Credit Evaluation Committee to conduct a review of the
115	115	85tax credit. The committee shall be comprised of 7 members: 2 of whom shall be appointed by the
116	116	86secretary of the executive office of health and human services; 2 of whom shall be appointed by
117	117	87the secretary of the executive office of elder affairs; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the
118	118	88secretary of the executive office for administration and finance; 1 of whom shall be appointed by
119	119	89the president of the senate; and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of
120	120	90representatives.
121	121	91 The committee shall:
122	122	92 (1) examine the purpose for which the tax credit was established;
123	123	93 (2) determine whether the original intent of the tax credit is still appropriate;
124	124	94 (3) examine whether the tax credit is meeting its objectives;
125	125	95 (4) examine whether the purposes of the tax credit could be more efficiently and
126	126	96effectively carried out through alternative methods; and 6 of 15
127	127	97 (5) calculate the costs of providing the tax credit, including the administrative cost and
128	128	98lost revenues to the commonwealth as well as any estimated saving to the Commonwealth by
129	129	99helping the person to avoid nursing home care. The committee shall file a report of its findings
130	130	100with the senate and house clerks and with the governor, which shall include a recommendation as
131	131	101to whether the tax credit should be continued, with or without changes, or be terminated. The
132	132	102report shall be accompanied by any legislation that is needed to accomplish the
133	133	103recommendations of the report. The report shall be filed no later than 3 December 31 of the
134	134	104evaluation year.
135	135	105 SECTION 4. Section 9 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
136	136	106Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 16, after the words "requirements of Title
137	137	107XIX;", the following words:- provided further, that spouses shall be permitted to serve as
138	138	108caregivers in the adult foster care and personal care attendant programs.
139	139	109 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
140	140	110office of health and human services, in consultation with the department of elder affairs and the
141	141	111office of Medicaid, shall develop metrics, standards, and procedures that trigger emergency long-
142	142	112term care provider rates of payment that include hazard pay wage add-ons for employees of
143	143	113home health agencies, personal care agencies, and home care agencies that shall be implemented
144	144	114in response to any COVID19 resurgence, statewide public health emergency, severe statewide
145	145	115weather emergency, or other statewide emergency incident. The executive office of health and
146	146	116human services shall also develop standard, comprehensive, timely and publicly accessible
147	147	117processes for provider reporting and state audits of the use of emergency rate increases for wage
148	148	118increases. 7 of 15
149	149	119 SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
150	150	120office of health and human services, in consultation with all appropriate state agencies and all
151	151	121relevant public stakeholders, shall develop and implement a mandatory infection control and
152	152	122public health training program that all new and incumbent direct care employees of home health
153	153	123agencies and home care agencies shall complete as a condition of employment. The executive
154	154	124office shall establish contracts with labor-management training funds, community colleges, and
155	155	125other entities capable of conducting the training program and shall ensure the training program is
156	156	126implemented in a manner that is coordinated with the work of other state agencies and public and
157	157	127private entities involved in health care workforce training, recruitment, and retention.
158	158	128 SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
159	159	129office of health and human services shall establish an online personal protective equipment
160	160	130exchange for the purpose of identifying, aggregating, and making available for private purchase
161	161	131and procurement necessary personal protective equipment to be utilized by long-term care
162	162	132workers, including, but not limited to, personal care attendants and all employees of nursing
163	163	133facilities, resident care facilities, assisted living residences, adult day programs, home health
164	164	134agencies, and home care agencies in the Commonwealth. The executive office shall: (i) identify
165	165	135and offer qualified private wholesalers, manufacturers, and suppliers the opportunity to
166	166	136participate on the exchange; (ii) ensure that the personal protective equipment offered on the
167	167	137exchange complies with all federal and state requirements and specifications; and (iii) establish
168	168	138and implement a 2 comprehensive process to receive, negotiate, and finalize competitive pricing
169	169	139to be offered for the personal protective equipment placed on the exchange. 2 All sales of the
170	170	140personal protective equipment from the exchange shall be private transactions by and between
171	171	141the private purchaser and private seller. The executive office shall operate the exchange and 8 of 15
172	172	142therefore facilitate such transactions but shall have no legal responsibility to offer payment for or
173	173	143the delivery of the personal protective equipment. The executive office may establish processes
174	174	144to subsidize or to discount the cost of personal protective equipment that is purchased through
175	175	145the exchange for certain purchasers. In developing the exchange, the executive office shall
176	176	146establish a stakeholder group, which shall be comprised of representatives from 1199SEIU, the
177	177	147Massachusetts Senior Care Association, the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, Leading
178	178	148Age of Massachusetts, the Hospice Federation of Massachusetts, the Home Care Alliance of
179	179	149Massachusetts, manufacturers and suppliers of personal protective equipment, and other
180	180	150stakeholders that the executive office deem necessary to organize and establish the exchange.
181	181	151 SECTION 8. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
182	182	152office of health and human services, in consultation with the department of elder affairs and the
183	183	153office of Medicaid, shall develop and implement new standards and practices that use the worker
184	184	154contact information included in the Massachusetts Home Care Worker Registry established in
185	185	155Chapter 139 of the Acts of 2017 to ensure robust communication with the home care agency
186	186	156workforce during a state public health emergency or other state emergencies. Such
187	187	157communication shall include, but not be limited to, informing the home care agency workforce
188	188	158about any new provider rates designated for hazard pay, the availability of and standards for
189	189	159mandatory infection control trainings, and procedures for accessing personal protective
190	190	160equipment from any state-run online exchange.
191	191	161 SECTION 9. The personal protective equipment exchange established in Section 3 shall
192	192	162be implemented not later than 90 days after the effective date of this act 9 of 15
193	193	163 SECTION 10. Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as so appearing, is
194	194	164hereby amended by adding the following new section:- For the purposes of this section the
195	195	165following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following
196	196	166meanings:
197	197	167 "Health Care Workforce", personnel employed by or contracted to work at a skilled
198	198	168nursing facility that influence the delivery of quality care to residents, including but not limited
199	199	169to registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, unlicensed assistive
200	200	170personnel, service, maintenance, clerical, and all other health care workers.
201	201	171 "Skilled Nursing Facility" shall mean a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 long term care
202	202	172facility as defined in Massachusetts standard operations of long-term care facility regulations
203	203	173(105 CMR 150). (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, each skilled
204	204	174nursing facility shall establish and develop a health care workforce care planning committee
205	205	175within 90 days of the effective date of this act. The membership of the planning committee shall
206	206	176include at least one nurse, one certified nurse assistant, and one representative for each labor
207	207	177organization representing bargaining units at the facility. The membership of the planning
208	208	178committee shall include no more than the same number of management representatives relative
209	209	179to the number of appointed members of the health care workforce. (b) The committee shall
210	210	180participate in at least one meeting of labor management committee training. Such training shall
211	211	181be provided by an outside training vendor with demonstrated experience in labor management
212	212	182training. The training vendor shall be selected by majority vote of the planning committee and
213	213	183the facility shall pay for costs of this training. 2 (c) Each facility’s health care workforce
214	214	184planning committee shall develop, implement, monitor and regularly adjust a comprehensive
215	215	185care team plan that accounts for each unit or other skilled nursing facility division in which direct 10 of 15
216	216	186patient care is provided. The care team plan shall be developed to ensure that the assigned health
217	217	187care workforce members are sufficient to ensure a safe working environment and to provide
218	218	188quality care to the facility’s residents. Further, the care team plan shall account for all anticipated
219	219	189variables that can influence a facility’s delivery of quality patient care. The care team plan shall
220	220	190include account for (i) the numbers and skill mix of needed health care workforce members to be
221	221	191assigned to residents, (ii) anticipated resident census, (iii) the time needed 2 to complete
222	222	192expected care tasks, (iv) the need for specialized equipment and technology, (v) the physical
223	223	193environment of the facility; and (vi) the necessity of ensuring a safe working environment. (d) As
224	224	194a condition of licensure, each skilled nursing facility shall submit the care team plan developed
225	225	195under subsection (b) and (c) to the department of public health on at least an annual basis. Such
226	226	196submission shall include a certification from each member of the health care workforce planning
227	227	197committee that the care team plan submitted accurately represents the consensus decisions of the
228	228	198facility’s planning committee. (e) The department of public health shall develop rules and
229	229	199regulations as needed to implement this section.
230	230	200 SECTION 11. Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the
231	231	201contrary, the Department of Public Health shall amend the regulations governing “Nursing
232	232	202Services” and the standard operations of long-term care facilities (105 CMR 150.007). Such
233	233	203amendments shall establish enhanced operational standards for Level 1, 2, and 3 facilities
234	234	204mandating that, on and after October 1, 2022, compliance with sufficient staffing standards must
235	235	205include the provision of a minimum number of hours of care per resident per day (PPD) of 4.0
236	236	206hours, of which at least 3.5 hours must be care provided to the resident by a certified nursing
237	237	207assistant. 11 of 15
238	238	208 SECTION 12. SECTION 1. (a) The following terms, as used in this section, shall, unless
239	239	209the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
240	240	210 “Consumer”, means a person receiving home care services from a home care worker
241	241	211employed by a home care agency or from a personal care attendant.
242	242	212 “Home care agency”, an entity or organization, however organized and whether
243	243	213conducted for profit or not for profit, that is owned, operated, maintained or advertised for the
244	244	214purpose of providing home care services in residential settings for compensation, provided,
245	245	215however, that home care agency shall not include an entity operated by either the federal
246	246	216government or the commonwealth providing home care services; an entity that limits its business
247	247	217exclusively to the provision of house cleaning services; an aging service access points or ASAP
248	248	218entity as defined in section 4B of chapter 19A; a hospice program licensed under section 57D of
249	249	219chapter 111; or an adult foster care program regulated under 130 CMR 408.
250	250	220 “Home care services”, supportive services provided to an individual in his or her
251	251	221residence to enable that individual to remain in his or her residence safely and comfortably,
252	252	222including, but not limited to, assistance with activities of daily living, homemaker services,
253	253	223housekeeping, personal laundry, personal care and companionship, provided, however, that
254	254	224home care services shall not include hospice services provided by an entity subject to licensure
255	255	225under section 57D of chapter 111, the home health services provided by an entity subject to
256	256	226licensure under section 51K of chapter 111, services provided by a personal care attendant in the
257	257	227commonwealth’s personal care attendant program as defined in 130 CMR 422.000, or services
258	258	228provided under the MassHealth adult foster care program as defined in 101 CMR 351.00. 12 of 15
259	259	229 “Home care worker”, means an individual employed by a home care agency who
260	260	230provides home care services to a consumer in the consumer’s residence.
261	261	231 “Personal Care Attendant”, means an individual who provides consumer-directed
262	262	232personal care services to a consumer in the consumer’s residence, including, but not limited to, a
263	263	233person providing such services as defined under section 70 of chapter 118E.
264	264	234 (b) The executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the home care
265	265	235worker and consumer abuse stakeholder advisory committee, mass health, the department of
266	266	236elder affairs, the department of public health, and the personal care attendant workforce council,
267	267	237shall adopt minimum standards and procedures for addressing abusive treatment and bullying of
268	268	238Massachusetts home care workers, personal care attendants and consumers. Such standards and
269	269	239procedures shall address physical, verbal and mental abuse either of or from individual clients or
270	270	240consumers as well as any abusive treatment or bullying from consumer surrogates, family
271	271	241members, other caregivers and any others present in the consumers’ household when the home
272	272	242care worker is providing care services. Such standards and procedures shall promote appropriate
273	273	243worker and consumer training and supports, and a safe and healthy work environment for home
274	274	244care workers, while recognizing the privacy rights of home care clients and consumers, the role
275	275	245of PCA consumer employers and that home care consumers/clients may have a disruptive
276	276	246behavioral disorder underlying abuse behavior.
277	277	247 (c) There shall be a Home Care Worker and Consumer Abuse Stakeholder Advisory
278	278	248Committee that shall meet, study, and make recommendations to the Executive Office of Health
279	279	249and Human Services relative to standards and procedures for addressing abusive treatment and
280	280	250bullying of home care workers, personal care attendants and consumers. 13 of 15
281	281	251 The advisory committee shall consist of the following 15 members: the secretary of
282	282	252health and human services or a designee who shall serve as chair; the assistant secretary for
283	283	253MassHealth or a designee; the secretary of elder affairs or a designee; the commissioner of
284	284	254public health or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs or their designees;
285	285	255the chairs of the joint committee on children, families, and disabilities, and 9 persons to be
286	286	256appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a personal care attendant, 1 of whom shall be a
287	287	257home care agency direct care worker, 1 of whom shall be a consumer of pca services who shall
288	288	258be a member of the pca workforce council, 1 of whom shall be a consumer of home care agency
289	289	259services, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts statewide independent living
290	290	260council, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the disability Law center, 1 of whom shall be a
291	291	261representative of the Massachusetts home care, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the
292	292	262Massachusetts home care aide council and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the
293	293	263Massachusetts division of 1199SEIU-UHE. The members of the advisory committee shall serve
294	294	264without compensation.
295	295	265 The advisory committee shall meet at least monthly in the first six months after passage
296	296	266of this Act to develop initial findings and recommendations. The advisory committee shall
297	297	267submit a report containing initial findings and recommendations, including drafts of proposed
298	298	268legislation or regulatory changes to carry out its recommendations, by filing the same with the
299	299	269clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on elder affairs and the
300	300	270joint committee on public health not later than six months following the passage of this Act. The
301	301	271advisory committee shall continue to meet quarterly thereafter and until the advisory committee
302	302	272votes to dissolve itself. 14 of 15
303	303	273 (d) The home care worker and consumer abuse stakeholder advisory committee shall
304	304	274study and make findings and recommendations relative to the development and implementation
305	305	275of minimum standards and procedures for addressing abusive treatment and bullying of
306	306	276Massachusetts home care workers, personal care attendants and consumers. The advisory
307	307	277committee’s study, findings and recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, each of
308	308	278the following matters:
309	309	279 1) Reporting and debriefing: best practices for standards and procedures for home care
310	310	280workers and their consumers/clients experiencing abusive treatment, bullying or neglect to report
311	311	281such abuse to their employers and/or appropriate state entities, including the Personal Care
312	312	282Attendant Workforce Council and/or MassHealth for PCAs, without retaliation and while
313	313	283retaining the right to report any criminal activity to law enforcement. Such standards shall
314	314	284include, but not be limited to, best practices for a debriefing process for affected workers and
315	315	285consumers following violent acts.
316	316	286 2) Tracking and record retention: Best practices for standards and procedures for the
317	317	287Executive Office of Health and Human Services to track and monitor reports of both worker
318	318	288abuse and reports of consumer abuse or neglect.
319	319	289 3) Informing workers: Best practices for standards and procedures that would require
320	320	290employers of home care workers or other appropriate state entities, including the Personal Care
321	321	291Attendant Workforce Council and/or MassHealth for PCAs, to regularly inform home care
322	322	292workers of patterns of consumer/client worker abuse or bullying that indicates a potentially
323	323	293unsafe working environment. Such standards and procedures shall respect home care
324	324	294client/consumer privacy while prioritizing worker safety and while ensuring continuity of care. 15 of 15
325	325	295 4) Training and employer policies: Best practices for standards and procedures for the
326	326	296Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in consultation with home care employers and
327	327	297other stakeholders, to develop and implement home care worker and consumer orientations and
328	328	298other trainings on worker abuse and bullying, escalation cycles and effective de-escalation
329	329	299techniques, culturally competent and peer-to-peer trainings and strategies to prevent physical
330	330	300harm with hands-on practice or role play. Best practices for home care employers to implement
331	331	301additional internal plans and procedures to reduce workplace violence and abuse, offer resources
332	332	302to employees for coping with the effects of violence and develop labor-management workplace
333	333	303safety committees.
334	334	304 SECTION 13. Section 1 of chapter 151B of the General Laws is hereby amended in line
335	335	30521 by inserting after the word “thereof” the following words:-
336	336	306 and shall also include an employer of a personal care attendant as defined under section
337	337	30770 of chapter 118e of the General Laws including individual consumers of a personal care
338	338	308attendant
339	339	309 SECTION 14. Section 3 of this act shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after
340	340	310January 1 next following the date of enactment.