Budget Amendment ID: FY2016-S3-178-R1

Redraft GOV 178

Logan Airport Workers Commission

Messrs. Petruccelli, Moore, Eldridge, McGee, Brownsberger and Lewis, Mrs. L'Italien, Ms. Chang-Diaz and Ms. Forry moved that the proposed new text be amended <w:p><w:r><w:t xml:space="preserve">at the end thereof by inserting the following new section:-

"SECTION XXX.  There shall be a special commission to investigate and study the broader impacts relating to safety, security and costs to taxpayers of the structure for providing subcontracted passenger services at Logan International Airport; the impact of these low wage jobs on children, families and communities; and the cost to Massachusetts taxpayers caused by the impact of these low wage jobs on the local economy. The commission shall consist of: 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be house members designated by the Speaker of the House, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be senate members designated by the Senate President, 1 whom shall serve as co-chair, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the minority party appointed by the minority leader; the Attorney General or her designee;  the Chief Executive Officer of Massport or his designee;  the Commissioner of Public Health or his or her designee; the Mayor of Boston or his designee; 2 designees of the Attorney General, 1 of which shall be an officer of a union that represents or seeks to represent passenger services workers; and 2 persons to be appointed by the Governor, 1 of whom shall be a homelessness or children’s advocacy or service organization.  The co-chairs shall convene the organizational session of the commission not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

The special commission shall study the impact of low wage passenger services jobs at Logan International Airport. In its investigation and study, the commission shall include, but not be limited to, determining: (i) the wages and benefits received by passenger services workers at Logan International Airport; (ii) the demographics of passenger services workers at Logan International Airport; (iii) the level of reliance of passenger services workers at Logan International Airport on various forms of public assistance, including health insurance; (iv) the neighborhoods in which passenger services workers live; (v) the level of housing security and risk of homelessness of passenger services workers; (vi) the rate of turnover of passenger services workers at Logan International Airport; (vii) the costs and impacts – including to public health and security- associated with high employee turnover; (viii)best practices in airports and businesses for reducing employee turnover and raising quality standards; (ix) the costs to the taxpayers as a result of low wage jobs at Logan International Airport.

The special commission shall conduct  no less than two public hearings to gather information.  The co-chairs may provide staff and other resources to the commission as they consider appropriate. The commission shall file its final report and recommendations, if any, and drafts of legislation necessary to implement the recommendations with the joint committee on transportation and the joint committee on public health not later than December 31, 2015.