SENATE DOCKET, NO. 507        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 76

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sal N. DiDomenico

_________________

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 basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

1/25/2023

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Norfolk

1/27/2023

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/31/2023

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/6/2023

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/8/2023

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

2/21/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/21/2023

Adam Gomez

Hampden

2/23/2023

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

2/28/2023

Carlos González

10th Hampden

3/1/2023

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

3/1/2023

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

3/15/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

4/6/2023

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

4/10/2023

Liz Miranda

Second Suffolk

5/22/2023

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

6/28/2023

Edward J. Kennedy

First Middlesex

7/12/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

7/12/2023

Lydia Edwards

Third Suffolk

7/13/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 507        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 76

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 76) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael D. Brady, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant 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 1. Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 39 the following new section:-

Section 40: The department of transitional assistance shall, subject to appropriation, provide the following basic needs benefits to persons residing in the Commonwealth who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence or are otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law: a) cash assistance and related benefits to children, pregnant women and caretaker adults who meet the eligibility requirements of Chapter 118 of the General Laws except for the program requirements related to immigration status or citizenship, and b) nutritional assistance benefits to persons who meet the eligibility requirements of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program except for the program requirements related to immigration status or citizenship. The basic needs benefits authorized under this section shall be provided at the same level and subject to the same requirements as benefits provided under Chapter 118 or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the exception of the immigration status or citizenship requirements of those programs.