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). Workers performing mortuary funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including at funeral homes, crematoriums, cemeteries, and coffin makers. 23 out of 40 Massachusetts state senators support it by signing on as co-sponsors. How Healthy Are Your Aging Parents Right Now, Truthfully? Energy/commodity trading/scheduling/marketing functions, who can't perform their duties remotely. 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 Workers including contracted vendors - who support the operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of essential public works facilities and operations, including roads and bridges, water and sewer, laboratories, fleet maintenance personnel, construction of critical or strategic infrastructure, traffic signal maintenance, emergency location services for buried utilities, and maintenance of digital systems infrastructure supporting public works operations. Relative to preserving preventative services without cost sharing. Local and state inspectors and administrative support of inspection services who are responsible for the inspection of elevators, escalators, lifts, buildings, plumbing and gas fitting, electrical work, and other safety related professional work. Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations. COVID Essential Pay Program: Some 500,000 Mass. 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. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Customer service and support staff, including managed and professional services as well as remote providers of support to transitioning employees to set up and maintain home offices, who interface with customers to manage or support service environments and security issues, including payroll, billing, fraud, logistics, and troubleshooting. Warehouse operators, including vendors and support personnel critical for business continuity (including HVAC & electrical engineers; security personnel; and janitorial staff) and customer service for essential functions. 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. Relative to governing the use of pesticides containing the herbicide substance Glyphosate in the Commonwealth. 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. 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. After Age 60, You Still Can Find A New Career As A Firefighter. Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Centers, Broadcast Operations Control Centers and Security Operations Command Centers. The bill allows for bonuses for essential workers, up to $2,000 each. Community Property Estate Planning Not So Simple, Calculating The Right Number Of Bank Accounts For Your Solo Business, Most Likely President Joe Biden Will Live Through A Second Term, Life Expectancy Data Show, Why Women Are Better (Investors) Than Men, Older Adults With Middle Incomes Are Trapped In The Affordable Housing Gap, Inherit A Roth IRA? Education. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains, and workers necessary to maintain a manufacturing operation in warm standby. 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. November 11, 2021 / 10:09 AM Spending may be reallocated between different federal funding sources, or between federal sources and state sources. Bus drivers and workers who provide or support intercity, commuter and charter bus service in support of other essential services or functions. Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, Registry of Motor Vehicle (RMV) employees, towing/recovery services, roadside assistance workers, intermodal transportation personnel, and workers who maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-jurisdiction travel). 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. Staff at government offices who perform title search, notary, and recording services in support of mortgage and real estate services and transactions. For legislation to save recycling costs in the commonwealth. Manufacturer workers for health manufacturing (including biotechnology companies), materials and parts suppliers, logistics and warehouse operators, distributors of medical equipment (including those who test and repair), personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation barriers, medical gases, pharmaceuticals (including companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, and medical devices, diagnostics, equipment and services) (including materials used in radioactive drugs), dietary supplements, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, and tissue and paper towel products. Workers in hardware and building materials stores, consumer electronics, technology and appliances retail, and related merchant wholesalers and distributors - with reduced staff to ensure continued operations. Employees supporting personal and commercial transportation services including taxis, delivery services, vehicle rental services, bicycle maintenance and car-sharing services, and transportation network providers. Workers at generation, transmission, and electric black start facilities. Environment and Natural Resources. And, again, 126 state representatives and 23 state senators were willing to sign onto this because the symbolism of the gesture was more important than assessing whether it was a financially responsible decision. Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities. IT and OT technology for essential energy sector operations including support workers, customer service operations; energy management systems, control systems, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition SCADA systems, and energy sector entity data centers; cybersecurity engineers; and cybersecurity risk management. 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 supporting groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores, farmers markets and farm stands, nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and agriculture supply stores, and other retail (including unattended and vending) that sells human food, animal/pet food and pet supply, and beverage products (including liquor stores), including retail customer support service and information technology support staff necessary for online orders, pickup and delivery. Elections personnel to include both public and private sector elections support. Engineers, technicians and associated personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration, including contractors for construction and engineering of fiber optic cables, buried conduit, small cells, other wireless facilities, and other communications sector-related infrastructure. Central office personnel to maintain and operate central office, data centers, and other network office facilities, critical support personnel assisting front line employees. Learn more about businesses and organizations that were designated as providing COVID-19 Essential Services before the launch of the Commonwealth's reopening plan. November 18, 2021 / 10:10 AM Half a million low-income workers will be the first to get the payments, which are being mailed out over the next week. Employees in cafeterias used to feed employees, particularly employee populations sheltered against COVID-19. Vegetation management and traffic control for supporting those crews. March 1, 2023. "I'm glad it's here," Baker said at a Friday news conference. 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) Environment and Natural Resources. People must also have been Massachusetts residents in 2020, or part-year residents in the commonwealth between March 10-Dec. 31, 2020. Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities. Maintenance of communications infrastructure- including privately owned and maintained communication systems- supported by technicians, operators, call -centers, wireline and wireless providers, cable service providers, satellite operations, Internet Exchange Points, Points of Presence, Network Access Points, back haul and front haul facilities, and manufacturers and distributors of communications equipment. Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators). Chemical and equipment suppliers to water and wastewater systems and personnel protection. The unprecedented challenges we are experiencing have laid bare how intertwined public health and the economy truly are; how absolutely vital working people are to keeping every family safe, secure, healthy and fed; and how critical economic safety Air transportation employees, including air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel, ramp workers, aviation and aerospace safety, security, and operations personnel and accident investigations. 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. Transportation safety inspectors, including hazardous material inspectors and accident investigator inspectors. Please visit. It is possible that the payments may come in the form of a one-time refundable tax credit, the legislation adds. Workers who perform critical clinical research, development, and testing needed for COVID-19 response. Operational staff at community water systems. workers should expect to receive $500 payments over the next week, Beacon Hill must ensure sports betting legislation is equitable for Black and Brown businesses, senators told in new letter, We have the will: Mental health bill gaining traction on Beacon Hill, with House Speaker Ron Mariano backing reform. In fact, regardless of ones opinions on the various proposals to give teachers, for instance, bonuses for their year of remote teaching, it is nonetheless a far more fiscally responsible choice to make, than this proposal, which is no different than borrowing money for the same purpose. 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). Workers who produce, process, ship and handle coal used for power generation and manufacturing. The Baker administration is gauging eligibility on a broad set of criteria, starting with whether residents filed their 2020 tax returns. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Postal, parcel, courier, last-mile delivery, and shipping and related workers, to include private companies. 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. Will those sponsors be willing to vote down the measure? Bill H.4745 191st (2019 - 2020) An Act providing hazard pay for essential workers in the COVID-19 emergency By Ms. Robinson of Framingham, a petition An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids. "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. Massachusetts Gov. Manufacturers and distributors (to include service centers and related operations) of packaging materials, pallets, crates, containers, and other supplies needed to support manufacturing, packaging staging and distribution operations. If so, are you experiencing problems? Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting hazardous materials management operations. Around 500,000 Massachusetts low-income residents dealt some of the toughest financial blows at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic should start receiving $500 payments from the Baker administration within the next week. ", Baker saidin late October that he's generally supportive of the "premium pay program," saying that "this is something that is the right thing to do.". 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. We will use this information to improve this page. BOSTON (CBS) -- Lawmakers from the Massachusetts House and Senate failed to reach a compromise to get a massive spending bill - including a bonus of up to $2,000 for pandemic essential workers - to Gov. Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items. 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." Workers including contracted vendors -- who maintain, manufacture, or supply equipment and services supporting law enforcement emergency service and response operations (to include electronic security and life safety security personnel). Their household income must not be more than 300% of the federal poverty level. Government, private, and non-governmental organizations workers essential for food assistance programs (including school breakfast and lunch programs) and government payments. In a statement posted on their website, they criticized the broad coverage acting as an unfunded mandate for municipalities, including workers even if they had worked outside their home for a single day, encompassing both blue collar and white collar workers. The below list remains published for reference only. Employees necessary to maintain news and media operations across various media. Their household income must not be more than 300% of the federal poverty level. Workers who produce or manufacture parts or equipment that supports continued operations for any essential services and increase in remote workforce (including computing and communication devices, semiconductors, and equipment such as security tools for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) or datacenters). FFOs role in compliance for federal funds, including compliance resources for municipalities and state agencies. H.2042 192nd (2021 - 2022) In subsequent reporting, government watchdog group The Pioneer Institute voiced its opposition. Published: Mar. Workers, including contracted vendors, engaged in the maintenance and operation of essential highway infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and tunnels (e.g., traffic operations centers and moveable bridge operators). 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 critical to rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment that facilitate continuity of operations for essential workforces and other essential travel. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Workers distributing, servicing, repairing, installing residential and commercial HVAC systems, boilers, furnaces and other heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment. Mass transit, freight and passenger rail workers, including contracted vendors, providing transit services and/or performing critical or routine maintenance to rail or mass transit infrastructure or equipment. Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Massachusetts Essential Workers Bill of Rights. Farmers, farm workers, support service workers, and their supplier employees to include those engaged in producing and harvesting field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; biodiesel and renewable diesel facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The "Premium Pay" program calls for bonuses of between $500 and $2,000 for essential employees who worked in-person not remotely during the state of emergency that was declared on March 10, 2020 and lasted for more than a year. An advisory panel will determine which essential workers qualify for the bonuses. HD5038/SD 2921- An Act to provide liability protections for contractors, sub-contractors and unions during the COVID-19 Pandemic: would indemnify contractors and unions for not completing their work because of abnormally dangerous working conditions, Click here to find contact information for your elected representatives to demand they support the above bills. 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.. 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. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Charlie Baker's desk in time for Thanksgiving, the State House News Service reports. Title. Gov. Mutual assistance personnel which may include workers from outside of the state or local jurisdiction. Workers necessary for the installation, maintenance, distribution, and manufacturing of water and space heating equipment and its components. Similar Bills. All rights reserved (About Us). Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely. 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. 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. Propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel distribution centers. 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. The bonuses could be a boost for essential workers in Massachusetts who may have been hoping that Congress would act on afourth stimulus check, which now appears unlikely. BOSTON (CBS) -- The Massachusetts Senate on Friday followed the lead of the House and unanimously passed a $4 billion spending bill that includes half a billion Ethanol and biofuel production, refining, and distribution. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. Essential employees who worked in-person throughout the pandemic could be cashing in on taxpayer-funded bonuses of up to $2,000 under a $3.65 billion plan by Please limit your input to 500 characters. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 1195) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to provide hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration. / CBS Boston. Retail customer service personnel at critical service center locations for onboarding customers, distributing and repairing equipment and addressing customer issues in order to support individuals remote emergency communications needs, supply chain and logistics personnel to ensure goods and products are on-boarded to provision these front-line employees. / CBS Boston. He has not yet confirmed that he'll sign the bill into law. First published on November 11, 2021 / 10:09 AM. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Supporting new and existing construction projects, including, but not limited to, pipeline construction. Public agency workers responding to abuse and neglect of children, elders, and dependent adults.

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