| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 525 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 489 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Michael F. Rush |
|---|
| 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 statewide volunteer program to assist seniors. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and Suffolk 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 525 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 489 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 489) of Michael F. Rush for |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | legislation to establish the adopt a senior program. Elder Affairs. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 400 OF 2023-2024.] |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | An Act establishing a statewide volunteer program to assist seniors. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 1 SECTION 1. Section 40 of chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following section:- |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 3 Section 41. The secretary shall, subject to appropriation or the receipt of gifts, grants, |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 4and awards from any public or private entity pursuant to section 7 of chapter 19A, establish a |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 5statewide volunteer program for the purpose of assisting seniors with snow removal, property or |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 6home maintenance services. The department shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 7to administer this program which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) coordinating among |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 8agencies of the commonwealth and other organizations using community service and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 9volunteerism as a strategy to assist with this program; (2) establishing a registry and registration |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 10of volunteer personnel who are available to provide services; (3) establishing procedures for 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 11matching and placing individuals with seniors; (4) encouraging the corporate community of the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 12commonwealth to become an active partner in the support, advocacy and promotion of |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 13community service and volunteerism relative to this program; and (5) establishing a system of |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 14volunteer incentives to assist with recruiting and registration of volunteers. |
|---|