Amendment #109 to H4708

DUA Benefit Modernization Advisory Committee

Representatives Cabral of New Bedford, LeBoeuf of Worcester, Sabadosa of Northampton, Nguyen of Andover, Mark of Peru, Robinson of Framingham, Barber of Somerville, Elugardo of Boston, Pignatelli of Lenox, Balser of Newton, Khan of Newton, Ciccolo of Lexington, Hendricks of New Bedford, Gouveia of Acton, Gordon of Bedford, Madaro of Boston, Livingstone of Boston, Moran of Lawrence, Ultrino of Malden, Golden of Lowell, Capano of Lynn, Ryan of Boston, LaNatra of Kingston, Lewis of Framingham, Malia of Boston, Ashe of Longmeadow, Vargas of Haverhill, Honan of Boston and Stanley of Waltham move to amend the bill in section 2, in item 1790-3009, in line 64, by inserting after the word “benefits” the following:

“provided further, that the development, implementation and deployment of the online delivery system shall be undertaken in consultation with the Benefit Modernization Advisory Committee established in Section 2G”

by inserting after section 2 the following section:

“SECTION 2G. BENEFIT MODERNIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Benefit Modernization Advisory Committee (advisory committee) is established to advise and report to the executive office of labor and workforce development, the executive office of technology services and security, the executive office for administration and finance and to report to the joint committee on labor and workforce development regarding the implementation and deployment of a comprehensive online system for unemployment insurance benefits including alternate methods of access for individuals without online access or who have other barriers to access including English proficiency, disabilities, or lack of proficiency with online systems (delivery system). The following shall apply:

(a) The advisory committee shall consist of the following members:

(1) Three employees of the department of unemployment assistance (department) including an individual who provides constituent services, an individual who provides multilingual services, and an individual with technical expertise who regularly communicates with front-line staff, appointed by the secretary of the executive office of labor and workforce development.

(2) A legal technology design academic appointed by the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development.

(3) A representative of organized labor, appointed by the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development.

(4) A representative of a group representing employers, appointed by the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development.

(5) An attorney experienced in representing unemployed insurance claimants, appointed by the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development.

(6) The secretary of labor and workforce development and the secretary of technology services and security or their designees shall be ex officio members of the advisory committee.

(b) The advisory committee shall meet within 90 days of the effective date of this section.

(c) The members appointed under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) shall be the co-chairs of the advisory committee.

(d) After the initial meeting, the co-chairs of the advisory committee shall organize quarterly meetings of the advisory committee. At the request of a co-chair, the committee may schedule additional meetings.

(e) Members of the advisory committee shall be provided with monthly updates regarding the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system.

(f) In addition to department staff members of the advisory committee, other relevant department staff and representatives of relevant project vendors as determined and requested by the co-chairs shall attend meetings of the advisory committee.

(g) The advisory committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) The advisory committee shall monitor the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system.

(2) The advisory committee may request information related to the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system at any time. The department shall timely provide information requested unless the specific information is determined by the department to be of a proprietary interest or the release of the information is prohibited by law.

(3) The advisory committee may make recommendations to the department regarding the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system at any time.

(4) The advisory committee may provide the department with assistance related to testing of the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system.

(5) The advisory committee shall provide a report, not later than June 30 of each year, to the joint committee on labor and workforce development and to the executive offices of labor and workforce development, technology services and security, and administration and finance. The report shall include the advisory committee’s assessment of the progress regarding the development, implementation and deployment of the delivery system, a list of recommendations that the advisory committee has made to the department and whether those recommendations have been accepted, feedback from stakeholders in response to testing of the system, and comments to notices generated by the system. The advisory committee shall provide the department with a draft copy of the report at least 30 days prior to submission under this paragraph, and shall be permitted to include its response to the contents of the report. In no event shall the department be allowed to delay the submission of the report by the advisory committee.

(6) The advisory committee shall continue to exercise the powers and duties provided under this subsection until December 31, 2026.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #109 to H4708

DUA Benefit Modernization Advisory Committee