HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5048        FILED ON: 4/24/2020

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Claire D. Cronin and Jon Santiago

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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 relative to compensation for paramedics and emergency medical technicians providing ambulance services during the COVID-19 Massachusetts state of emergency.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

4/24/2020

Jon Santiago

9th Suffolk

4/27/2020

Nika C. Elugardo

15th Suffolk

4/28/2020

Christopher Hendricks

11th Bristol

4/28/2020

Gerard J. Cassidy

9th Plymouth

4/29/2020


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5048        FILED ON: 4/24/2020

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By Representatives Cronin of Easton and Santiago of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Claire D. Cronin, Jon Santiago and others relative to compensation for paramedics and emergency medical technicians providing ambulance services during the COVID-19 state of emergency.  Public Service.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to compensation for paramedics and emergency medical technicians providing ambulance services during the COVID-19 Massachusetts state of emergency.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to make certain changes in law in response to a public health emergency, each of which is immediately necessary to carry out to accomplish important public purposes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician who staffs a 911 ambulance response unit as the Primary or Secondary provider under a Service Zone Plan with any Municipality of the Commonwealth who has provided emergency services during the Massachusetts state of emergency related to COVID 19 declared on March 11, shall be compensated retroactively at a rate equal to the rate paid to a non-probationary fire fighter employed in said Service Zone Plan area. The rate to be paid under this Act shall be determined by reference to the collective bargaining agreement between the relevant Municipality and the Union representing professional fire fighters in Service Zone Plan area. Compensation shall be paid at the rate dictated by this Act until the state of emergency ends or until May 31, 2020, whichever is later.

SECTION 2. Any Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician entitled to compensation under this Act who is improperly denied said compensation by his/her employer shall be entitled to maintain an action against said employer for non-payment of wages under G.L. c. 149, §148. Said action shall be brought pursuant to G.L. c. 149, §150, and said employee shall be entitled to all remedies provided by G.L. c. 149, §150.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.