SENATE DOCKET, NO. 550 FILED ON: 2/2/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1621
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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 relative to emergency hazard health duty.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester |
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Brian W. Murray | 10th Worcester | 2/24/2021 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 2/24/2021 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 2/24/2021 |
Diana DiZoglio | First Essex | 2/24/2021 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 3/1/2021 |
Michael D. Brady | Second Plymouth and Bristol | 3/1/2021 |
Kimberly N. Ferguson | 1st Worcester | 3/1/2021 |
Carol A. Doherty | 3rd Bristol | 3/1/2021 |
Walter F. Timilty | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth | 3/11/2021 |
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf | 17th Worcester | 3/11/2021 |
Adam J. Scanlon | 14th Bristol | 3/15/2021 |
Erika Uyterhoeven | 27th Middlesex | 4/6/2021 |
Joanne M. Comerford | Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester | 4/6/2021 |
Maria Duaime Robinson | 6th Middlesex | 4/6/2021 |
John J. Cronin | Worcester and Middlesex | 4/13/2021 |
Tami L. Gouveia | 14th Middlesex | 6/9/2021 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 550 FILED ON: 2/2/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1621
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1621) of Michael O. Moore, Brian W. Murray, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to emergency hazard health duty. Public Safety and Homeland Security. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2602 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 relative to emergency hazard health duty.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to maintain the health and safety of the Commonwealth's first responders, 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:
Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any public safety official, which shall include any individuals employed as police, fire personnel, correction officers, dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nursing professionals, and all individuals employed and considered as 1st responders, who contract, have symptoms of, or otherwise becomes affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), that results in a period of hospitalization, quarantine, or require self-quarantined measures as a result of being infected or coming into contact with someone who is infected with this virus, shall have their medical condition or incapacity to work presumed to be work-related. The amount of time said public safety official is incapacitated or unable to perform their duties as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection or exposure and the required time of hospitalization, time of quarantine or time of self-quarantine shall be considered as on duty time, and said public safety official shall not be required to use sick time, vacation time, personal time or any other contractual time-off to cover said period of incapacitation or inability to perform regular duty work. This time of incapacitation or inability to perform their duties shall be considered as "emergency hazard health duty," or, in the case of employees to which it applies, be covered under G.L. c. 41, Section 111F.