HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1375        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sally P. Kerans

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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 ensure adequate coverage of funeral expenses in cases of work-related death.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1375        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 to ensure adequate coverage of funeral expenses in cases of work-related death.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 152 of the General Laws is hereby amended in Section 33 by striking, the following: "In all cases, the insurer shall pay the reasonable expenses of burial, not exceeding eight times the average weekly wage in the Commonwealth as determined pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 29 of Chapter 151A" and inserting in its place the following:-

“Reimbursable final disposition expenses shall include funeral and memorial related expenses associated with unplanned death, including but not limited to funeral visitation services, purchase of interment space, interment services, flowers, casket, death notices and headstone, up to twenty-five thousand dollars or 10 times the average weekly wage, whichever is greater."