SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1564        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 134

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

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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 protecting safety net access for Massachusetts residents.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1564        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 134

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 protecting safety net access for Massachusetts residents.

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

Section 5 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following paragraph:-

At least 120 days before taking steps to not renew a lease for or close a community service office and at least 120 days before soliciting any proposals for a lease for a community service office, the commissioner shall notify the chairs of the committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the house and senate committees on way and means, and joint committee for state administration and regulatory oversight of the proposed action, the community service office that would be affected, and the reasons for the proposed action. Within 30 days of receipt of said notice, the joint committee for state administration and regulatory oversight shall schedule and hold a public hearing on the department’s plans. At the hearing, the department shall provide testimony and data regarding its plans, including but not limited to a comparison of the current and proposed community service office locations for low-income households in the service area with respect to (a) transportation options, including the cost and frequency of public transit and travel time to and from the current and proposed location; (b) office hours; (c) access for seniors, persons with disabilities, persons who are needed to care for children or other family members; persons who are employed; (d) the availability of staff who speak the languages spoken by persons with limited English proficiency in the service area; (e) in areas where there are advisory boards the minutes showing that the board has been appraised of the intention to close or relocate; (f) surveys from its current recipients of how the proposed closure or relocation would affect them. The surveys shall be done in the recipients’ primary or preferred language in order to maximize participation and ensure equity; (g) a report of the community services, and community economic and social relations near the current and proposed community service office; (h) demographic and poverty rate data of the residents of both the current and proposed community service office location; and (i) other matters as requested by said committee. The committee shall provide an opportunity for public testimony regarding the department’s plans.