SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1212        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1206

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam G. Hinds

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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 enhancing worker protection.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1212        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1206

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2868 OF 2019-2020.]

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 enhancing worker protection.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to protect workers during a public health emergency, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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

Chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following section:-

Section 204. There is hereby created an Office of the Ombudsman for Worker Protection, herein to be referred to as the office, within the Office of the Attorney General.

(a) The Attorney General shall develop an ombudsman program to be administered by this office for receiving, investigating, and resolving through administrative action complaints received by employees and workers of any workplace in the Commonwealth regarding occupational health and safety.

(b) The office may collect any relevant data to support the investigation, however the identity of the employee or worker making the complaint shall remain confidential.

(c) The office may coordinate with law enforcement, municipal governments, public health officials, and any other agency they determine is necessary to properly investigate and resolve complaints.

(d) The office shall furnish annual reports to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, the Chairs of Joint Committee on Public Health, the Chairs of Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, the Chairs of Joint Committee on the Judiciary, and the Clerks of the House and Senate by December 31 of each calendar year. The reports shall include but not be limited to data on the number of claims filed and resolved, the nature of the claims filed, and the general industries that were investigated.