HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4102        FILED ON: 3/11/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Chynah Tyler

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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:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4102        FILED ON: 3/11/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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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 Whereas, the Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians staffing 911 ambulance response units during the COVID-19 state of emergency are at the front of the front line fighting this pandemic, providing first responder services alongside municipal police officers and fire fighters;
Whereas, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians staffing 911 ambulance response units employed by public and private Emergency Medical Service Employers are generally paid at rates much lower than other first responders in the municipalities they serve;
Whereas, Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians staffing 911 ambulance response units during the COVID-19 state of emergency are exposed to the disease and hazardous conditions at rates equal to or greater than other first responders, 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 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 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.