SENATE DOCKET, NO. 315        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 427

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

_________________

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 establishing a statewide adopt-a-senior program.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

 

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

2/18/2021

Steven G. Xiarhos

5th Barnstable

2/18/2021

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

2/23/2021

Jessica Ann Giannino

16th Suffolk

2/23/2021

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/25/2021

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

3/1/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 315        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 427

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 427) of Michael F. Rush, Steven S. Howitt, Steven G. Xiarhos, Brian M. Ashe and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish the adopt a senior program.  Elder Affairs.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 377 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a statewide adopt-a-senior program.

 

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.  Section 40 of chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following section:-

Section 41.  The secretary shall, subject to appropriation or the receipt of gifts, grants, and awards from any public or private entity pursuant to section 7 of chapter 19A, establish a statewide “Adopt-A-Senior” volunteer program for the purpose of assisting seniors with snow removal, property or home maintenance services. The department shall have the power to adopt rules and regulations to administer this program which shall include, but not be limited to: (1) coordinating among agencies of the commonwealth and other organizations using community service and volunteerism as a strategy to assist with this program; (2) establishing a registry and registration of volunteer personnel who are available to provide services; (3) establishing procedures for matching and placing individuals with seniors; (4) encouraging the corporate community of the commonwealth to become an active partner in the support, advocacy and promotion of community service and volunteerism relative to this program; and (5) establishing a system of volunteer incentives to assist with recruiting and registration of volunteers.