SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2647

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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SENATE, April 23, 2020.

The committee on Senate Ways and Means to whom was referred the House Bill relative to host community agreements (House, No. 4398), - reported, in part, a "Bill providing assistance to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 emergency" (Senate, No. 2647).

For the committee,

Michael J. Rodrigues

        FILED ON: 4/22/2020

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2647

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act providing assistance to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 emergency.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith make certain changes in law to authorize expanded access to assistance for vulnerable populations, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health.
 

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 subsection (b) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 or any other general or special law to the contrary, a family shall not be denied assistance under said section 110 of said chapter 5 solely because the family’s countable resources exceed $5,000.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding chapter 117A of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, a person shall not be denied assistance under said chapter 117A solely because the person’s countable resources exceed the allowable limit.

SECTION 3. This act shall expire 120 days after the passage of this act or 45 days after the termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency, whichever is sooner; provided, however, that the governor may postpone such expiration in increments of not more than 90 days; provided further, that the governor shall not postpone such expiration to later than 45 days after the termination of the declaration.