SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1922        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1232

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Susan L. Moran

_________________

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 providing unemployment insurance for seasonal workers affected by COVID-19.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable

 

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/9/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1922        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1232

By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1232) of Susan L. Moran and Michael O. Moore for legislation to provide  unemployment insurance for seasonal workers affected by COVID-19.  Labor and Workforce Development.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act providing unemployment insurance for seasonal workers affected by COVID-19.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide relief to workers whose wages ad benefits are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety and 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. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall have the following meanings:-

“Educational Employees” Employees who perform services for educational institutions under Section 28A (b)

“Seasonal Employees,” Employees who engage in seasonal employment as defined by Section 24A of Chapter 151 A,

“State of emergency”, the state of emergency called by Executive Order No. 591 dated March 10, 2020 concerning the health care crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus, along with any subsequent states of emergency that may be declared by the Commonwealth from time to time or at any time due to health care concerns raised by the COVID-19 virus.

SECTION 2. Chapter 151A is hereby amended by inserting after Section 74 the follow new section: -

Section 75

(a) For seasonal employee and educational employee applicants determining eligibility and benefits for unemployment insurance under Section 24 of Chapter 151 shall have the option of providing the previous eight quarters of employment information for determining the base period.

SECTION 3. The provisions of this section shall expire after the state of emergency.