Workers, including contracted vendors, who support the operation, distribution, maintenance, and sanitation, of air transportation for cargo and passengers, including flight crews, maintenance, airport operations, those responsible for cleaning and disinfection, and other on- and off- airport facilities workers. Workers supporting the manufacturing of safety equipment and uniforms for law enforcement, public safety personnel, and first responders. Workers critical to rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment that facilitate continuity of operations for essential workforces and other essential travel. The Baker administration is gauging eligibility on a broad set of criteria, starting with whether residents filed their 2020 tax returns. Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, Registry of Motor Vehicle (RMV) employees, towing/recovery services, roadside assistance workers, intermodal transportation personnel, and workers who maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-jurisdiction travel). Bill H.4745 191st (2019 - 2020) An Act providing hazard pay for essential workers in the COVID-19 emergency By Ms. Robinson of Framingham, a petition _____ PETITION OF: Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. The order was extended on March 31, April 28, and May 15. Manufacturers and distributors (to include service centers and related operations) of packaging materials, pallets, crates, containers, and other supplies needed to support manufacturing, packaging staging and distribution operations. We will use this information to improve this page. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Support required for continuity of services, including commercial disinfectant services, janitorial/cleaning personnel, and support personnel functions that need freedom of movement to access facilities in support of front-line employees. Relative to parental rights in education. Workers necessary for mining and production of critical minerals, materials and associated essential supply chains, and workers engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for mining production and distribution. Scientific researchers in higher education completing in-process research to ensure health and safety and to prevent the loss of essential data, Workers who support the design, production and distribution of educational materials or technologies for the use of educators or students in distance learning during the state of emergency. Workers responsible for the leasing of residential properties and RV facilities to provide individuals and families with ready access to available housing. Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities. 25, 2022, 1:30 p.m. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Workers at Reliability Coordinator, Balancing Authorities, and primary and backup Control Centers, including but not limited to independent system operators, regional transmission organizations, and local distribution control centers. Workers supporting ecommerce through distribution, warehouse, call center facilities, and other essential operational support functions. Massachusetts House Bill 2808 ( Prior Session Legislation) MA State Legislature page for H2808 Summary Sponsors Texts Votes Research Comments Track Note: Legislation replaced by H5206 Status Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 100-24-1) Status: Introduced on March 29 2021 - 25% progression, died in chamber Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing. Relative to governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance Glyphosate in the Commonwealth. "The Baker-Polito Administration believes the Legislature's original decision six months ago to freeze these funds and subject them to the legislative process created a massive delay in putting these taxpayer dollars to work," Press Secretary Terry MacCormack said in a statement. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Workers supporting the construction of housing, including those supporting government functions related to the building and development process, such as inspections, permitting and plan review services that can be modified to protect the public health, including allowing qualified private third-party inspections accountable to government agencies). In response to these objections, Zlotnik said the bill is still very early in the process and said cost would be a major determining factor in any bonus payout to public workers, in an e-mail to the Boston Herald. They include: First published on December 3, 2021 / 4:31 PM. Workers providing disinfection services, for all essential facilities and modes of transportation, and supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail. Workers needed to preempt and respond to cyber incidents involving critical infrastructure, including medical facilities, SLTT governments and federal facilities, energy and utilities, and banks and financial institutions, securities/other exchanges, other entities that support the functioning of capital markets, public works, critical manufacturing, food & agricultural production, transportation, and other critical infrastructure categories and personnel, in addition to all cyber defense workers (who can't perform their duties remotely). Bill S.1669 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Will those in power recognize this would be an embarrassment and simply never bring the bill to a vote? The legislation suggests that those eligible may include but not be limited to health care workers, long-term care workers, public health staff, childcare workers, educators and school staff, farm workers, food production workers, grocery store and other service workers, transportation workers, utility workers and foster care parents. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Whats more, nowhere in any of the discussion does Zlotnik or any of the bills supporters suggest that among the revisions would be any notion that the state should pay for the added cost up-front. Workers who support onshore and offshore drilling operations, platform and drilling construction and maintenance; transportation (including helicopter operations); maritime transportation, supply, and dredging operations; maritime navigation; natural gas and natural gas liquid production, processing, extraction, storage and transportation; well intervention, monitoring, automation and control; waste disposal, and maintenance, construction, and operations. Government and private sector employees (including government contractors) with work related to undersea cable infrastructure and support facilities, including cable landing sites, beach manhole vaults and covers, submarine cable depots and submarine cable ship facilities. Relative to promoting comprehensive transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. Government, private, and non-governmental organizations workers essential for food assistance programs (including school breakfast and lunch programs) and government payments. Financial Services. Financial Services. Includes cold- and frozen-chain logistics for food and critical biologic products. Farmers, farm workers, and agribusiness support services to include those employed in auction and sales: grain and oilseed handling, processing and distribution; animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically and for export. "Massachusetts was already behind most of the country in utilizing these funds before the latest setback, and further delay will only continue to leave residents, small businesses and hundreds of organizations frozen out from the support the rest of the country is now tapping into to recover from this brutal pandemic. Making appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2023 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. Workers including contracted vendors - who support the operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of essential public works facilities and operations, including roads and bridges, water and sewer, laboratories, fleet maintenance personnel, construction of critical or strategic infrastructure, traffic signal maintenance, emergency location services for buried utilities, and maintenance of digital systems infrastructure supporting public works operations. Supporting new and existing construction projects, including, but not limited to, pipeline construction. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and wastewater operations. Education. Charlie Baker (R) announced Tuesday the state will begin distributing $500 payments to 500,000 low-income workers. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. In fact, regardless of ones opinions on the various proposals to give teachers, for instance, bonuses for their year of remote teaching, it is nonetheless a far more fiscally responsible choice to make, than this proposal, which is no different than borrowing money for the same purpose. How Healthy Are Your Aging Parents Right Now, Truthfully? Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely. An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a declaration of a state of emergency H.4739 191st (2019 - 2020) An Act creating a Federal, State, and Local, Tribal, and Territorial employees who support Mission Essential Functions and communications networks. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Workers who produce or manufacture parts or equipment that supports continued operations for any essential services and increase in remote workforce (including computing and communication devices, semiconductors, and equipment such as security tools for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) or datacenters). Workers including truck drivers, railroad employees and contractors, maintenance crew, and cleaners supporting transportation of chemicals, hazardous, medical, and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, functions, and services, including specialized carriers, crane and rigging industry workers. Workers who support sawmills and the manufacture and distribution of fiber and forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood and fiber products. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Will those sponsors be willing to vote down the measure? That the town of Arlington be authorized to prohibit use of second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides by commercial pesticide applicators in said town. Workers supporting transportation via inland waterways such as barge crew, dredging, river port workers for essential goods. Workers performing services in support of the elderly and disabled populations who coordinate a variety of services, including health care appointments and activities of daily living. The unprecedented challenges we are experiencing have laid bare how intertwined public health and the Workers in dependent care services, in support of workers in other essential products and services. Title; H.3900 : An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities Thank you for your website feedback! Natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel processing plants, including construction, maintenance, and support operations. Employees necessary to maintain news and media operations across various media. Food service workers in residential schools with students who are unable to leave campus. Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems. Workers who support the operation, maintenance and public safety of parks, forests, reservations, conservation restrictions, wildlife management areas, water supply protection lands, and other critical natural resources and open space for passive recreation. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Engineers, technicians and associated personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration, including contractors for construction and engineering of fiber optic cables, buried conduit, small cells, other wireless facilities, and other communications sector-related infrastructure. For legislation to establish the pesticide control modernization and environmental protection task force. Data center operators, including system administrators, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers and purchasers, data transfer solutions engineers, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators, for all industries (including financial services). Eligible workers must have worked in person during the state of emergency that began on March 10, 2020 and lasted for more than a year. The text of the bill, H. 2808/S. The legislation Baker signed into law called for payments of between $500 and $2,000 for essential employees who worked in-person not remotely during the The program still has million of dollars to dole out to essential workers. However, unemployment compensation in 2019 or 2021 does not affect eligibility for a round 1 check, so long as you are otherwise eligible based on residency and income, according to the Baker administration. Around 500,000 Massachusetts low-income residents dealt some of the toughest financial blows at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic should start receiving $500 payments from the Baker administration within the next week. Critical government workers, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of, Workers that provide services for or determine eligibility for public benefits such as subsidized health care, food and feeding programs, residential and congregate care programs, shelter, in-home supportive services, child welfare, juvenile justice programs, adult protective services and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including family members), Professional services (such as legal, accounting and tax preparation) and payroll and employee benefit services when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities and critical sector services or where failure to provide such services during the time of the order would result in significant prejudice, Commercial retail stores that supply essential sectors, including convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair, hardware and home improvement, and home appliance retailers, Workers and instructors supporting academies or training facilities and courses or assessments for the purpose of graduating or certifying, during the duration of the state of emergency, healthcare personnel, cadets, and other workers who are critical to the ongoing response to COVID-19. Some page levels are currently hidden. This includes construction of new facilities and deployment of new technology as these are required to address congestion or customer usage due to unprecedented use of remote services. BOSTON (CBS) -- The Massachusetts Senate on Friday followed the lead of the House and unanimously passed a $4 billion spending bill that includes half a billion dollars for essential worker bonuses. Workers responsible for handling property management, maintenance, and related service calls who can coordinate the response to emergency at-home situations requiring immediate attention, as well as facilitate the reception of deliveries, mail, and other necessary services. Gov. Workers who are needed to provide, process and maintain systems for processing, verification, and recording of financial transactions and services, including payment, clearing, and settlement; wholesale funding; insurance services; consumer and commercial lending; and capital markets activities). Educators and staff supporting emergency childcare programs and residential schools for students with severe disabilities, and public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning, provision of school meals and other essential student support functions, and essential administrative functions necessary to maintain continuity of operations. The spending package, if signed into law, would use some It is not even clear whether he would have pursued any cost analysis, had he not been called out on this. 23 out of 40 Massachusetts state senators support it by signing on as co-sponsors. For legislation to save recycling costs in the commonwealth. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Workers at generation, transmission, and electric black start facilities. Workers who support radio, television, newspaper and media service, including, but not limited to front-line news reporters, studio, and technicians for newsgathering, and reporting, and publishing news. Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function should only be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance. Environment and Natural Resources. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Environment and Natural Resources. Workers, including contracted vendors, engaged in the maintenance and operation of essential highway infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and tunnels (e.g., traffic operations centers and moveable bridge operators). Please enter valid email address to continue. Both chambers were in agreement on allocating $500 million for the state's unemployment trust fund and another half a billion dollars for the bonuses in the $3.8 billion package. Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators). For legislation to promote transparency and prevent price gouging of pharmaceutical drug prices. Workers performing mortuary funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including at funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, and coffin makers. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) Federal Funds Office (FFO) is responsible for maximizing federal revenue and minimizing compliance risks associated with federal grants in the Commonwealth. If you need assistance, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The bill allows for bonuses for essential workers, up to $2,000 each. Now, whether this bill ultimately becomes law is still unknown. Manufacturer workers for health manufacturing (including biotechnology companies), materials and parts suppliers, logistics and warehouse operators, distributors of medical equipment (including those who test and repair), personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation barriers, medical gases, pharmaceuticals (including companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, and medical devices, diagnostics, equipment and services) (including materials used in radioactive drugs), dietary supplements, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, and tissue and paper towel products. The Senate still has to work out significant differences in allocations in its legislation with the version of the spending package that the House passed recently. Workers who respond to and clear traffic crashes, including contracted vendors and dispatchers. Workers supporting the energy sector through renewable energy infrastructure or energy efficiency projects (including, but not limited to wind, solar, biomass, hydrogen, ocean, geothermal, and/or hydroelectric), including those supporting construction, manufacturing, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, monitoring, and logistics. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations. Half a million low-income workers will be the first to get the payments, which are being mailed out over the next week. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Workers supporting communications systems and information technology- and work from home solutions- used by law enforcement, public safety, medical, energy, public works, critical manufacturing, food & agricultural production, financial services, education, and other critical industries and businesses. Healthcare providers and Caregivers including physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, optometrists, speech pathologists, chiropractors, other providers of mental and behavioral health care, peer support and recovery coach workers, personal care attendants, home health aides and home care workers, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists. We will use this information to improve this page. According to the text of the bill, eligible workers would receive payments on or before January 31, 2022. Bill S.1669 The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bills & Laws Budget Legislators Hearings & Events Committees & Commissions State House Bill S.1669 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers Bill S.1195 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. Charlie Baker's desk in time for Thanksgiving, the State House News Service reports. Learn more about businesses and organizations that were designated as providing COVID-19 Essential Services before the launch of the Commonwealth's reopening plan. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The bill also includes $500 million for the unemployment insurance trust fund, $400 million in mental health and behavioral support, and hundreds of millions of dollars for climate preparedness, education, housing, economic recovery and workforce development. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Environment and Natural Resources. You skipped the table of contents section. Please do not include personal or contact information. Workers and security staff involved in nuclear re-fueling operations. "The recommendations shall prioritize lower-income essential workers who performed essential duties in-person since the start of the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020," the bill states. 126 out of 160 Massachusetts state representatives have done the same. Workers who support food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for needy groups and individuals, including in-need populations and COVID-19 responders (including travelling medical staff). WebThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) Federal Funds Office (FFO) is responsible for maximizing federal revenue and minimizing compliance risks associated with federal grants in the Commonwealth. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. That round will be based off 2021 tax returns, though logistical details including the amount of the next payment remain an open question. You may opt-out by. Health Care Financing. Workers who staff natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel security operations centers, operations dispatch and control rooms/centers, and emergency response and customer emergencies (including leak calls) operations. Charlie Baker, who made his own proposal to spend $2.8 billion of the funds on housing, economic development and workforce training, criticized the delay through a spokesman. They estimate the bills cost at in the billions of dollars and point to a massive boost even for a single individual, the president of the University of Massachusetts, whose lifetime pension benefit would increase by $790,750. Pharmacy employees necessary to maintain uninterrupted prescription filling. Workers responsible for operating and dispatching passenger, commuter and freight trains public transportation and buses and maintaining rail and transit infrastructure and equipment. Warehouse operators, including vendors and support personnel critical for business continuity (including HVAC & electrical engineers; security personnel; and janitorial staff) and customer service for essential functions. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill of Rights. Bay Staters who received any unemployment compensation in 2020 wont receive a $500 check, according to the Baker administration. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Generator set support workers such as diesel engineers used in power generation including those providing fuel. Some 500,000 essential workers in Massachusetts should expect to receive $500 payments from the Baker administration by the end of March.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com. WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller notedthat the House and Senate bills have plenty of "lard" local spending unrelated to the stated goals of the ARPA and many of those projects made it into the compromise agreement. The bill, which has drawn broad support in the state Legislature, would credit workers with three extra years of service for their pensions when they retire if they Employees of firms providing services, supplies, and equipment that enable warehouse and operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing products for wholesale or retail sale or use. H.3900. Public health / community health workers, including those who compile, model, analyze and communicate public health information. WebAn Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a declared public health state of emergency S.1178 193rd (Current) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a public health "State of Emergency" declaration H.4745 191st (2019 - 2020) Workers necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. It is possible that neither spouse, or only one spouse, or both spouses would be eligible for a payment.. A lock icon ( Installation, maintenance and repair technicians that establish, support or repair service as needed.