HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2995        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1877

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Brandy Fluker Oakley

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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 to establish a hospital and community health center worker minimum wage.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2995        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1877

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act to establish a hospital and community health center worker minimum wage.

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. Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by adding the following new section:

Section 51W 

For the purposes of this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

"Covered Hospital Facility" shall mean a hospital licensed under section 51 of this chapter, the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts medical school, any licensed private or state-owned and state-operated general acute care hospital, psychiatric hospital, acute care specialty hospital, any acute care unit within a state operated healthcare facility, or a medium-security state correctional facility for male inmates located in Plymouth County that is operated and maintained by a private company under contract with the Department of Corrections.  For purposes of this section, a covered acute care hospital facility shall not include rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, other long-term care facilities, or any other Massachusetts correctional facilities.

“Covered Community Health Center” a health center operating in conformance with the requirements of Section 330 of United States Public Law 95–626, including all community health centers which file cost reports as requested by the center for health information and analysis, and including community health centers affiliated with a hospital licensed under section 51 of this chapter.

“Covered Community Health Center Worker” shall mean all personnel employed by or contracted to work at a community health center including but not limited to physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, service, maintenance, clerical, professional and technical workers, and all other health care workers.

"Covered Hospital Worker" shall mean all personnel employed by or contracted to work at a covered hospital facility, including but not limited to physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, service, maintenance, clerical, professional and technical workers, and all other health care workers.

(b) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, as a condition of state licensure and as a condition of receiving rate reimbursement from the Division of Medical Assistance, each covered community health center and covered hospital shall directly compensate or otherwise ensure minimum compensation for each covered hospital worker and covered community health center worker at a rate of no less than 150% of the statewide minimum hourly wage as established in section 1 of chapter 151 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

(c) The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the department of public health and the division of medical assistance, shall promulgate rules and regulations needed to implement and enforce this section, within 180 days of the passage of this act.