SENATE DOCKET, NO. 835        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 371

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

_________________

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 assisting elders and people with disabilities in the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

 

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

2/2/2023

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

2/3/2023

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/8/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

3/2/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

3/6/2023

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

4/12/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 835        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 371

By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 371) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Susannah M. Whipps, Brian W. Murray, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide emergency aid to certain elderly and disabled residents.  Elder Affairs.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 411 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to assisting elders and people with disabilities in the Commonwealth.

 

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 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Any person experiencing homelessness, (i) who has no established place of abode, or who lives in a temporary emergency shelter, and (ii) who is otherwise eligible under the provisions of this chapter, shall receive the same payment rate as recipients who incur shelter costs including, but not limited to rent or a mortgage. The department shall promulgate or revise any such rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. Chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10 the following new sections:-

Section 11. Effective July first of every year, the department shall increase the total budget of each eligible recipient, before taking into consideration any available income and resources, by a percentage amount equal to the percentage rise in the United States Consumer Price Index for January first of that year over the level of said index for January first of the previous year plus such additional percentage amount as is recommended annually by the department and appropriated by the general court. The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

Section 12. The department shall set the maximum benefit for the program in this chapter at the same level as the program in chapter 118 of the General Laws. The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.