SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1285        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 763

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Robyn K. Kennedy

_________________

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 promote an enhanced care worker minimum wage.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Robyn K. Kennedy

First Worcester

 

John J. Cronin

Worcester and Middlesex

1/25/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/26/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

1/26/2023

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Norfolk

1/27/2023

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

1/27/2023

Jacob R. Oliveira

Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester

1/27/2023

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/2/2023

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

2/6/2023

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/8/2023

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

2/8/2023

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/10/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/13/2023

Rita A. Mendes

11th Plymouth

4/11/2023

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

5/12/2023

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

5/19/2023

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

1/2/2024

Adam Gomez

Hampden

1/11/2024

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

1/11/2024

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

1/16/2024

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

1/23/2024

Manny Cruz

7th Essex

1/31/2024

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

2/1/2024

Paul R. Feeney

Bristol and Norfolk

2/6/2024


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1285        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 763

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 763) of Robyn K. Kennedy, John J. Cronin, Jack Patrick Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote an enhanced care worker minimum wage.  Health Care Financing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to promote an enhanced care 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. Section 13C of Chapter 118E of the general laws is amended after the second paragraph by inserting the following new paragraphs:

In establishing such rates of payment pursuant to the second paragraph of this section and in implementing rate regulations, the secretary of the executive office shall require that the minimum wage paid to employees of social service program providers receiving such payments shall be no less than 140 percent of the statewide minimum wage.  When establishing rates of payment for social service programs, the secretary of the executive office shall adjust such rates of payment to ensure that the rates fully account for the cost to providers of paying such enhanced minimum wage.

Prior to establishing such rates of payment pursuant to the second paragraph of this section and prior to the issuance of proposed regulations, the secretary of the executive office shall hold hearings that are open to the public. Such public hearings shall solicit input from social service program providers, social service program workers, labor organizations representing social service program workers, and other community stakeholders. Concurrent with such public hearings and prior to establishing such rates of payment, the executive office shall investigate and analyze the wage rates and working conditions for employees of social service program providers. In conducting such public hearings and investigations, the executive office may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.

SECTION 2.  Section 4 of Chapter 19A is hereby amended by adding after Section 4D the following new section:

SECTION 4E: In establishing rates of payment for homemaker and personal care homemaker services pursuant to the second paragraph of section 13C of chapter 118E of the M.G.L. and in implementing rate regulations, the executive office shall require by that the minimum wage paid to employees of home care agencies providing such services shall be no less than 140 percent of the statewide minimum wage.  When establishing rates of payment for homemaker and personal care homemaker services pursuant, the executive office shall adjust such rates to ensure that the rates fully account for the cost to providers of paying such enhanced minimum wage. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting consideration of other governmental mandates or operating costs that affect the cost of providing services pursuant to section 4 of chapter 19A of the General Laws.

Prior to establishing such rates of payment and prior to the issuance of proposed regulations, the executive office shall hold hearings that are open to the public. Such public hearings shall solicit input from homemaker and personal care homemaker service providers, homemakers, personal care homemakers, labor organizations representing such workers, and other community stakeholders. Concurrent with such public hearings and prior to establishing such rates of payment, the executive office shall investigate and analyze the wage rates and working conditions for homemakers and personal care homemakers. In conducting such public hearings and investigations, the executive office may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.

SECTION 3. Section 13D of Chapter 118E of the general laws is amended after the second paragraph by inserting the following new paragraphs:

In establishing such rates for nursing homes and rest homes and in implementing rate regulations, the executive office shall require that the minimum wage paid to employees of nursing homes and rest homes receiving such payments shall be no less than 140 percent of the statewide minimum wage.  When establishing rates of payment for nursing homes and rest homes, the executive office shall adjust such rates to ensure that the rates fully account for the cost to providers of paying such enhanced minimum wage.

Prior to establishing such rates for nursing homes and rest homes and prior to the issuance of proposed regulations, the executive office shall hold hearings that are open to the public. Such public hearings shall solicit input from nursing home and rest home operators, nursing home and rest home workers, labor organizations representing nursing home and rest home workers, and other community stakeholders. Concurrent with such public hearings and prior to establishing such rates of payment, the executive office shall investigate and analyze the wage rates and working conditions for employees of nursing homes and rest homes. In conducting such public hearings and investigations, the executive office may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.