AN ACT EXTENDING COVID-19 MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to extend the availability of Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience._____
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. Section 9 of chapter 16 of the acts of 2021 is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The purpose of the fund shall be to reimburse eligible employers for the cost of providing employees with COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave; provided, however, that not more than $500,000 shall be expended for a public information campaign to educate and promote awareness to the public of the availability of COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave.
SECTION 2. Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 10 of said chapter 16 is hereby amended by striking out the words “or (ii) needs medical diagnosis, care or treatment for COVID-19 symptoms” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (ii) needs medical diagnosis, care or treatment for COVID-19 symptoms; or (iii) is obtaining an immunization related to COVID-19 or is recovering from an injury, disability, illness or condition related to such immunization.
SECTION 3. Section 11 of said chapter 16 is hereby amended by striking out the words “September 30, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- April 1, 2022.
SECTION 4. The executive office for administration and finance, or any department or agency thereof designated by the executive office, shall establish a public information campaign to educate and promote awareness to the public, including, but not limited to, employees and employers, as defined in section 8 of chapter 16 of the acts of 2021, about availability of the COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave, established pursuant to sections 8 to 12, inclusive, of said chapter 16. Information shall include, but not be limited to, the availability and eligibility for COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave. The executive office for administration and finance, or any department or agency thereof designated by the executive office, shall seek to ensure that the information campaign reaches employers and employees, as defined in said section 8 of said chapter 16, eligible for COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave.
SECTION 5. Section 2 shall take effect as of October 1, 2021.
Approved, September 29, 2021.