HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3374        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

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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 creating a commission to study unemployment insurance reform.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3374        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

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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 creating a commission to study unemployment insurance reform.

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. There shall be a special commission to: (i) evaluate the Commonwealth’s current unemployment policies and assess their effect on the health and growth of Massachusetts small businesses, and (ii) make recommendations to improve the existing unemployment insurance procedures in regard to fostering economic growth and incentivizing employers to hire additional workers. The commission shall file its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives not later than December 31, 2027. 

The commission shall consist of 1 member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member who shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the secretary of labor and workforce development or a designee; the secretary of economic development or a designee; the chair of the joint committee on community development and small business; the chair of the joint committee on labor and workforce development; the chair of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies; and 1 member to be appointed by each of the following organizations: Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and the Massachusetts State Labor Council.