HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3485        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4069

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Andres X. Vargas

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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 relative to the department of unemployment assistance.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3485        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4069

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to the department of unemployment assistance.

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 23 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 28. (a) The executive office of labor and workforce development shall convene a special team to conduct a review of the department of unemployment assistance. The special team shall consist of 5 members, to be appointed by the secretary of labor and workforce development, who shall have expertise in administrative operations and technology and unemployment insurance. The special team shall review the department of unemployment assistance in the following categories: (i) technology and resources; (ii) fraud; (iii) equitable access; and (iv) timeliness. Following its review of the department of unemployment assistance, the special team shall draft an action plan to reform and modernize the department.

(b) Not later than July 1, the special team shall submit to the secretary of labor and workforce development, the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on labor and workforce development a report including: (i) a summary of the special team’s review; (ii) the special teams action plan, including any recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes; and (iii) an estimate of the cost for making the changes recommended in the action plan.

SECTION 2. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2JJJJJJ the following section:-

Section 2KKKKKK. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Unemployment Assistance Review Fund, to be administered by the secretary of labor and workforce development. There shall be credited to the fund: (i) any appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) funds from public and private sources, including gifts, grants and donations; and (iii) interest earned on any money in the fund. The secretary may make expenditures from the fund without further appropriation for the purposes of implementing any changes recommended by action plan of the special team established pursuant to section 28 of chapter 23.

(b) Annually, not later than July 1, the secretary shall submit to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on labor and workforce development a report on the activities of the fund.