2023 Spiral Wall Calendar, Articles M

For legislation relative to telehealth and digital equity for patients. Senate Passes Spending Bill With Bonuses Of Up To $2,000 For The Senate Wednesday night unanimously approved a $3.82 billion package that aims to spend billions in federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. Both chambers were in agreement on allocating $500 million for the state's unemployment trust fund and another half a billion dollars for the bonuses in the $3.8 billion package. Workers supporting the distribution of food, pharmaceuticals (including materials used in radioactive drugs) and other medical materials, fuels, chemicals needed for water or water treatment and energy. Workers who support the inspection and maintenance of aids to navigation, and other government provided services that ensure continued maritime commerce. Will those in power recognize this would be an embarrassment and simply never bring the bill to a vote? Licensed site clean-up professionals and other workers addressing hazardous spills, waste sites, and remediation. Financial Services. Massachusetts Gov. Some 500,000 essential workers in Massachusetts should expect to receive $500 payments from the Baker administration by the end of March.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com. Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Use this button to show and access all levels. Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing. WebThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) Federal Funds Office (FFO) is responsible for maximizing federal revenue and minimizing compliance risks associated with federal grants in the Commonwealth. Some 500,000 essential workers in Massachusetts should expect to receive $500 payments from the Baker administration ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. It is possible that neither spouse, or only one spouse, or both spouses would be eligible for a payment.. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The panel would offer its recommendations on eligibility no later than Feb. 1, 2022. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Ethanol and biofuel production, refining, and distribution. Please do not include personal or contact information. Relative to health insurance consumer deductibles. Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential dams, locks and levees. He has not yet confirmed that he'll sign the bill into law. Mutual assistance personnel which may include workers from outside of the state or local jurisdiction. Health Care Financing. Massachusetts Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. After Age 60, You Still Can Find A New Career As A Firefighter. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Massachusetts To Start Mailing $500 'Premium Pay' Checks To Educators and staff supporting emergency childcare programs and residential schools for students with severe disabilities, and public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning, provision of school meals and other essential student support functions, and essential administrative functions necessary to maintain continuity of operations. The $500 payments, comprising the first phase of the $460 million COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program, are funded through federal coronavirus relief dollars. Workers who support the operation, maintenance and public safety of parks, forests, reservations, conservation restrictions, wildlife management areas, water supply protection lands, and other critical natural resources and open space for passive recreation. WebAn Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a declared public health state of emergency S.1178 193rd (Current) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a public health "State of Emergency" declaration H.4745 191st (2019 - 2020) Workers responsible for handling property management, maintenance, and related service calls who can coordinate the response to emergency at-home situations requiring immediate attention, as well as facilitate the reception of deliveries, mail, and other necessary services. The household income of those essential workers must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. Charlie Baker's desk in time for Thanksgiving, the State House News Service reports. S.1178 193rd (Current) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a public health "State of Emergency" declaration. "The panel shall also consider factors including, but not limited to, an essential worker's increased financial burden and increased risk of exposure to the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, due to the nature of their work and any bonuses or hazard pay a worker has already received for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount thereof.". WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller noted, $25,000 for a marker commemorating the designers of Riverbend Park in Cambridge, Restoring obscure historic buildings in out-of-the-way spots, like $75,000 for the Wilder Homestead in Buckland, $40,000 for the Jenkes Store in Douglas, and $50,000 to spruce up a gazebo in Townsend, $85,000 to improve The Brookline Chamber of Commerce website (, $200,000 to spruce up the middle school field soccer field in Hanson, $5 million to cover debts at the Edward Kennedy Institute. Please visit mass.gov/reopening for full details on the reopening plan. Environment and Natural Resources. WebBill No. All employees of the state, its political subdivisions, and its public colleges and universities, a bonus of three years added to age or years of service or a combination thereof for the purpose of calculating a retirement benefit, if, at any point between March 10, 2020 and December 21, 2020, they had volunteered to work or who [had] been required to work at their respective worksites or any other worksite outside of their personal residence.. Gov. Bay Staters who received any unemployment compensation in 2020 wont receive a $500 check, according to the Baker administration. State executive branch employees are also disqualified from the programs first round if they have already received, or will receive, a one-time check from the commonwealth. Health Care Financing. Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for agricultural production and distribution. Environmental remediation/monitoring workers limited to immediate critical needs technicians. Workers who support the supply chain of building materials from production through application/installation, including cabinetry, fixtures, doors, cement, hardware, plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, refrigeration, appliances, paint/coatings, and employees who provide services that enable repair materials and equipment for essential functions. Please enter valid email address to continue. WebWorkers supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and Providing services related to energy sector fuels (including, but not limited, petroleum (crude oil), natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, other liquid fuels, nuclear, and coal), supporting the mining, processing, manufacturing, construction, logistics, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, security, waste disposal and storage, and monitoring of support for resources. Baker said one area of concern is the process for handing out bonuses between $500 and $2,000 for essential workers in Massachusetts who worked in Natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel processing plants, including construction, maintenance, and support operations. If you do not receive a check, you may be eligible for a future round of premium payments, according to the Baker administration. Employees required in person to support Software as a Service businesses that enable remote working, performance of business operations, distance learning, media services, and digital health offerings, or required for technical support crucial for business continuity and connectivity. Workers who support moving and storage services. Massachusetts Workers performing mortuary funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including at funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, and coffin makers. Title; H.3900 : An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities Workers who support infrastructure, such as by road and line clearing and utility relocation, to ensure the availability of and access to needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Eligible workers must have worked in person during the state of emergency that began on March 10, 2020 and lasted for more than a year. Workers who coordinate with other organizations to ensure the proper recovery, handling, identification, transportation, tracking, storage, and disposal of human remains and personal effects; certify cause of death; and facilitate access to mental/behavioral health services to the family members, responders, and survivors of an incident. Bill S.1669 - malegislature.gov Married filers can each be eligible, provided each independently qualifies, according to the Baker administration. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The spending package, if signed into law, would use some Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, paintings and coatings, textiles, building materials, plumbing, electrical, and paper products. Workers who are critical to facilitating trade in support of the national, state and local emergency response supply chain. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Employees and firms supporting the distribution of food, feed, and beverage and ingredients used in these products, including warehouse workers, vendor- managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers. Healthcare providers and Caregivers including physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, optometrists, speech pathologists, chiropractors, other providers of mental and behavioral health care, peer support and recovery coach workers, personal care attendants, home health aides and home care workers, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists. Workers responsible for the leasing of residential properties and RV facilities to provide individuals and families with ready access to available housing. COVID-19: Essential Services | Mass.gov Workers who produce, process, ship and handle coal used for power generation and manufacturing. Public, private, and voluntary personnel (front line and management) in emergency management, law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, and private security, to include public and private hazardous material responders, air medical service providers (pilots and supporting technicians), corrections, and search and rescue personnel. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. It is possible that the payments may come in the form of a one-time refundable tax credit, the legislation adds. Support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste, including landfill operations. Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators). Thank you for your website feedback! Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health (including those involved in supporting emergency veterinary or livestock services); raising of animals for food; animal production operations; livestock markets; slaughter and packing plants, manufacturers, renderers, and associated regulatory and government workforce. "The recommendations shall prioritize lower-income essential workers who performed essential duties in-person since the start of the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020," the Senate bill states. Checks will be mailed automatically to eligible individuals regardless of what type of industry or business they work for with no type of application or action needed on behalf of Massachusetts essential workers themselves. Includes cold- and frozen-chain logistics for food and critical biologic products. COVID Essential Pay Program: Some 500,000 Mass. It is not even clear whether he would have pursued any cost analysis, had he not been called out on this. Workers who perform critical clinical research, development, and testing needed for COVID-19 response. Network Operations staff, engineers and/or technicians to include IT managers and staff, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators that manage the network or operate facilities. Relative to promoting comprehensive transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. Essential support personnel for electricity operations. The Commonwealths Reopening Massachusetts process is now underway, and all businesses and organizations should review that process to determine when they are permitted to reopen. Support required for continuity of services, including commercial disinfectant services, janitorial/cleaning personnel, and support personnel functions that need freedom of movement to access facilities in support of front-line employees. Bill H.4745 - malegislature.gov Workers distributing, servicing, repairing, installing residential and commercial HVAC systems, boilers, furnaces and other heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment. Bill S.1195 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. Federal, State, and Local, Tribal, and Territorial employees who support Mission Essential Functions and communications networks. MassLive wants to hear about your experience with the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program. Government and private sector employees (including government contractors) with work related to undersea cable infrastructure and support facilities, including cable landing sites, beach manhole vaults and covers, submarine cable depots and submarine cable ship facilities. Federal Funds Office | Mass.gov For legislation to establish the pesticide control modernization and environmental protection task force. Environment and Natural Resources. Charlie Bakersaid in late October that he's generally supportive of the bonuses, saying that "this is something that is the right thing to do." Propane gas service maintenance and restoration, including call centers. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations. Workers for onshore and offshore petroleum drilling operations; platform and drilling construction and maintenance; transportation (including helicopter operations), maritime transportation, supply, and dredging operations; maritime navigation; well stimulation, intervention, monitoring, automation and control, extraction, production; processing; waste disposal, and maintenance, construction, and operations. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Workers critical to rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment that facilitate continuity of operations for essential workforces and other essential travel. Please enter valid email address to continue. Workers supporting communications systems and information technology- and work from home solutions- used by law enforcement, public safety, medical, energy, public works, critical manufacturing, food & agricultural production, financial services, education, and other critical industries and businesses. Relative to preserving preventative services without cost sharing. Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items. Did you qualify to receive the $500 essential worker payment? In subsequent reporting, government watchdog group The Pioneer Institute voiced its opposition. Workers providing personal and household goods repair and maintenance. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Health Care Financing. Environment and Bonuses would be issued no later than March 31, 2022, according to the plan. Employees in cafeterias used to feed employees, particularly employee populations sheltered against COVID-19. External Affairs personnel to assist in coordinating with local, state and federal officials to address communications needs supporting COVID-19 response, public safety, and national security. Workers providing electronic security, fire, monitoring and life safety services, and to ensure physical security, cleanliness and safety of facilities and personnel, including temporary licensing waivers for security personnel to work in other States or Municipalities. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Maritime transportation workers, including dredgers, port workers, mariners, ship crewmembers, ship pilots and tug boat operators, equipment operators (to include maintenance and repair, and maritime-specific medical providers), ship supply, chandler, and repair companies. Workers performing services in support of the elderly and disabled populations who coordinate a variety of services, including health care appointments and activities of daily living. That round will be based off 2021 tax returns, though logistical details including the amount of the next payment remain an open question. Workers in animal diagnostic and food testing laboratories in private industries and in institutions of higher education. Security staff to maintain building access control and physical security measures. The Administration urges lawmakers to move quickly on this issue. 1195) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to provide hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration. Income is also a major eligibility factor for the $500 payments. Email feedback@masslive.com. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. Environment and Natural Resources. An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers By Representative Zlotnik of Gardner and Senator Velis, a joint petition Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill of Rights. Workers at renewable energy infrastructure (including, but not limited to wind, solar, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal, and/or hydroelectric), including those supporting construction, manufacturing, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, monitoring, and logistics. Workers who support food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for needy groups and individuals, including in-need populations and COVID-19 responders (including travelling medical staff). Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Essential Workers Who Turned Up in Pandemic May Get Payouts Generator set support workers such as diesel engineers used in power generation including those providing fuel. For legislation to reduce single-use plastics from the environment. The legislation suggests that those eligible may include but not be limited to health care workers, long-term care workers, public health staff, childcare workers, educators and school staff, farm workers, food production workers, grocery store and other service workers, transportation workers, utility workers and foster care parents. Employees who repair and maintain motor vehicles, subway and rail vehicles, rolling stock, buses, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, bicycles, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers. MA H2808 | 2021-2022 | 192nd General Court March 1, 2023. Workers who support steam distribution companies provision of district heating and any electric generation, Workers who support steam distribution companies dispatch and control rooms and emergency response and customer emergencies, including steam leak calls, Workers who support steam distribution companies service maintenance and restoration, including call centers, Workers who support steam distribution companies storage, transmission, and distribution centers. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. SENATE .SENATE . . DOCKET, . . NO.. 1686. . FILED. Residents slated to receive checks will have earned at least $12,750 in employment compensation in 2020, with their total household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level in 2020. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely. Lawmakers Unable To Reach Deal On Spending Bill That Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities. WebEssential Worker Bill of Rights in Massachusetts All workers deserve proper health and safety protections, protection from retaliation, access to free testing and treatment for Workers supporting the energy sector, regardless of the energy source (including but not limited to nuclear, fossil, hydroelectric, or renewable), segment of the system, or infrastructure the worker is involved in, or who are needed to monitor, operate, engineer, and maintain the reliability, safety, environmental health, and physical and cyber security of the energy system. Watch Out For Penalties For Missing RMDs. "The one-time investments made in this bill address evident needs across all Massachusetts communities and sectors of the economy, particularly those who were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement. Workers who support onshore and offshore drilling operations, platform and drilling construction and maintenance; transportation (including helicopter operations); maritime transportation, supply, and dredging operations; maritime navigation; natural gas and natural gas liquid production, processing, extraction, storage and transportation; well intervention, monitoring, automation and control; waste disposal, and maintenance, construction, and operations. According to the text of the bill, eligible workers would receive payments on or before January 31, 2022. Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Workers providing electronic point of sale support personnel for essential businesses and workers. Workers necessary for the installation, maintenance, distribution, and manufacturing of water and space heating equipment and its components. Workers in fuel sectors (including, but not limited to nuclear, coal, and gas types and liquid fuels) supporting the mining, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, and monitoring of support for resources. Environment and Natural Resources. However, unemployment compensation in 2019 or 2021 does not affect eligibility for a round 1 check, so long as you are otherwise eligible based on residency and income, according to the Baker administration. The legislation suggests that those eligible may include but not be limited to health care workers, long-term care workers, public health staff, childcare workers, educators and school staff, farm workers, food production workers, grocery store and other service workers, transportation workers, utility workers and foster care parents. It also provides $200 million in tax relief for small business owners. Propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel distribution centers. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Food service workers in residential schools with students who are unable to leave campus. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This includes construction of new facilities and deployment of new technology as these are required to address congestion or customer usage due to unprecedented use of remote services. As the federal government issues guidance and as the priorities change, A&F adapts its strategy for allocating funds in order to maximize the amount of federal funds available to the Commonwealth. Relative to governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance Glyphosate in the Commonwealth.