Employees of firms providing services, supplies, and equipment that enable warehouse and operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing products for wholesale or retail sale or use. Workers who support moving and storage services. 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. Now, whether this bill ultimately becomes law is still unknown. Baker's administration and an advisory panel would determine who exactly qualifies as an "essential worker." 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. Ethanol and biofuel production, refining, and distribution. Transmission and distribution pipeline workers, including compressor stations and any other required, operations maintenance, construction, and support for natural gas, natural gas liquid, propane, and other liquid fuels. Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Relative to the security and the protection of personal information by establishing the Massachusetts information privacy and security act. Factors that A&F considers in matching spending with Workers who produce, process, ship and handle coal used for power generation and manufacturing. But the State House News Service reports that leaders agree on two "cornerstones" in the bill - $500 million for the state's unemployment trust fund and another half a billion dollars for the bonuses. WebSpending may be reallocated between different federal funding sources, or between federal sources and state sources. BOSTON (CBS) -- Massachusetts is one step closer to giving bonuses of up to $2,000 to essential employees who showed up to work in-person during the COVID Workers supporting ecommerce through distribution, warehouse, call center facilities, and other essential operational support functions. Bill S.1669 192nd (2021 - 2022) An Act relative to providing a COVID-19 retirement credit to essential public-sector workers 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. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Spending may be reallocated between different federal funding sources, or between federal sources and state sources. H.2042 192nd (2021 - 2022) For legislation to establish the Massachusetts Data Privacy Protection Act. A lock icon ( That round will be based off 2021 tax returns, though logistical details including the amount of the next payment remain an open question. Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Centers, Broadcast Operations Control Centers and Security Operations Command Centers. December 3, 2021 / 4:31 PM 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. Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities. Health Care Financing. And left out of Zlotniks proposal is a recognition that the states main retirement fund is 64% funded, and the teachers fund, 52%, as of 2019. / CBS Boston. Massachusetts Legislature | 2023-2024 | 193rd General Court Elections personnel to include both public and private sector elections support. For legislation relative to pesticides. "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. Massachusetts AP NEW! 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. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, COVID-19: Essential Services, is, The below list remains published for reference only. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. They estimate the bills cost at in the billions of dollars and point to a massive boost even for a single individual, the president of the University of Massachusetts, whose lifetime pension benefit would increase by $790,750. Charlie Baker's desk. For legislation to establish the Massachusetts Information Privacy and Security Act. Relative to parental rights in education. Transportation supporting animal agricultural industries, including movement of animal medical and reproductive supplies and materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, live animals, animal by-products, and deceased animals for disposal. Gov. Massachusetts To Start Mailing $500 'Premium Pay' Checks To Workers in animal diagnostic and food testing laboratories in private industries and in institutions of higher education. Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems. Please enter valid email address to continue. Factors that A&F considers in matching spending with funding sources include eligibility rules,spending deadlines,the availability of new funding sources, and compliance risks. Income is also a major eligibility factor for the $500 payments. Workers who support the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military. Workers necessary for the installation, maintenance, distribution, and manufacturing of water and space heating equipment and its components. Their household income must not be more than 300% of the federal poverty level. Supporting new and existing construction projects, including, but not limited to, pipeline construction. Married filers can each be eligible, provided each independently qualifies, according to the Baker administration. He has not yet confirmed that he'll sign the bill into law. Massachusetts 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 supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and COVID-19 relief efforts. The bill also includes $500 million for the unemployment insurance trust fund, $400 million in mental health and behavioral support, and hundreds of millions of dollars for climate preparedness, education, housing, economic recovery and workforce development. Provide for premium pay between $500 and $2,000 for each eligible essential worker. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Critical government workers, as defined by the employer and consistent with Continuity of, Workers that provide services for or determine eligibility for public benefits such as subsidized health care, food and feeding programs, residential and congregate care programs, shelter, in-home supportive services, child welfare, juvenile justice programs, adult protective services and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including family members), Professional services (such as legal, accounting and tax preparation) and payroll and employee benefit services when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities and critical sector services or where failure to provide such services during the time of the order would result in significant prejudice, Commercial retail stores that supply essential sectors, including convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair, hardware and home improvement, and home appliance retailers, Workers and instructors supporting academies or training facilities and courses or assessments for the purpose of graduating or certifying, during the duration of the state of emergency, healthcare personnel, cadets, and other workers who are critical to the ongoing response to COVID-19. Environment and Natural Resources. Environment and Natural Resources. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and wastewater operations. The household income of those essential workers must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a declaration of a state of emergency H.4739 191st (2019 - 2020) An Act creating a Environmental remediation/monitoring workers limited to immediate critical needs technicians. Financial Services. Workers at generation, transmission, and electric black start facilities. It is not even clear whether he would have pursued any cost analysis, had he not been called out on this. The Senate still has to work out significant differences in allocations in its legislation with the version of the spending package that the House passed recently. WebActive Massachusetts Bills ( Introduced, Engrossed, Enrolled, Passed) For legislation to promote economic opportunities for cottage food entrepreneurs. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill Workers who maintain, ensure, or restore, or are involved in the reliable development, transportation, fuel procurement, expansion, or operation of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, including call centers, utility workers, engineers, retail electricity, constraint maintenance, and fleet maintenance technicians- who cannot perform their duties remotely. Workers, including contracted vendors, who support the operation, distribution, maintenance, and sanitation, of air transportation for cargo and passengers, including flight crews, maintenance, airport operations, those responsible for cleaning and disinfection, and other on- and off- airport facilities workers. Massachusetts Legislature Passes $4 Billion Spending 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. The panel would offer its recommendations on eligibility no later than Feb. 1, 2022. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. It also provides $200 million in tax relief for small business owners. It is possible that the payments may come in the form of a one-time refundable tax credit, the legislation adds. Blood and plasma donors and the employees of the organizations that operate and manage related activities. Mutual assistance personnel which may include workers from outside of the state or local jurisdiction. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill of Rights