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. The panel would offer its recommendations on eligibility no later than Feb. 1, 2022. Relative to preserving preventative services without cost sharing. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Workers including truck drivers, railroad employees and contractors, maintenance crew, and cleaners supporting transportation of chemicals, hazardous, medical, and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, functions, and services, including specialized carriers, crane and rigging industry workers. 126 out of 160 Massachusetts state representatives have done the same. Factors that A&F considers in matching spending with 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 ensuring transparent ticket pricing. Workers supporting the sanitation and pest control of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail. Workers to ensure continuity of building functions, including but not limited to security and environmental controls (e.g., HVAC), the manufacturing and distribution of the products required for these functions, and the permits and inspections for construction supporting essential infrastructure. 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. Automotive repair, maintenance, and transportation equipment manufacturing and distribution facilities (including those who repair and maintain electric vehicle charging stations). Environment and Natural Resources. S.1178 193rd (Current) An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a public health "State of Emergency" declaration. 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. 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 As always, youre invited to comment at JaneTheActuary.com! First published on November 11, 2021 / 10:09 AM. 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. Relative to promoting comprehensive transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the text of the bill, eligible workers would receive payments on or before January 31, 2022. "I'm glad it's here," Baker said at a Friday news conference. Environment and Natural Resources. 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. We will use this information to improve this page. Watch Out For Penalties For Missing RMDs. 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 dollars for essential worker bonuses. Similar Bills. Workers performing information technology and cybersecurity functions at healthcare and public health facilities, who cannot practically work remotely. Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employeesto include those employed in food ingredient production and processing facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging. Workers for crude oil, petroleum and petroleum product storage and transportation, including pipeline, marine transport, terminals, rail transport, storage facilities and racks and road transport for use as end-use fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and heating fuels or feedstocks for chemical manufacturing. 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 manage hazardous materials associated with any other essential activity, including but not limited to healthcare waste (medical, pharmaceuticals, medical material production), testing operations (laboratories processing test kits), and energy (nuclear facilities) Workers at nuclear facilities, workers managing medical waste, workers managing waste from pharmaceuticals and medical material production, and workers at laboratories processing tests Workers who support hazardous materials response and cleanup. December 3, 2021 / 4:31 PM Data center operators, including system administrators, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers and purchasers, data transfer solutions engineers, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators, for all industries (including financial services). Some of the work associated with maximizing federal revenue happens retrospectively: an expense is incurred and allocated to an available state or federal funding source, but it may be reallocated later if a more appropriate funding source is identified. Workers providing electronic point of sale support personnel for essential businesses and workers. Published: Mar. Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Centers, Broadcast Operations Control Centers and Security Operations Command Centers. Gov. 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. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. 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. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Workers who produce, process, ship and handle coal used for power generation and manufacturing. 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. Bill No. Bus drivers and workers who provide or support intercity, commuter and charter bus service in support of other essential services or functions. The 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. Workers necessary for mining and production of critical minerals, materials and associated essential supply chains, and workers engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for mining production and distribution. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Their household income must not be more than 300% of the federal poverty level. Workers supporting transportation via inland waterways such as barge crew, dredging, river port workers for essential goods. It also provides $200 million in tax relief for small business owners. 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. 1195) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to provide hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration. It is possible that the payments may come in the form of a one-time refundable tax credit, the legislation adds. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. The $3.65 billion package also includes $500 million in bonuses to both private- and public-sector essential workers who worked in-person during the Covid-19 state of emergency. Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities. 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. Workers who are critical to facilitating trade in support of the national, state and local emergency response supply chain. 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 Manufacturing and distribution of equipment, supplies, and parts necessary to maintain production, maintenance, restoration, and service at energy sector facilities (across all energy sector segments). If you need assistance, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. But the legislation, a bill to pay a bonus retirement credit to in-person public workers in that state, is still a terrible proposal. 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. 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. Employees supporting personal and commercial transportation services including taxis, delivery services, vehicle rental services, bicycle maintenance and car-sharing services, and transportation network providers. One way or the other, this is a prime case study in how pensions become so underfunded, as it is always far more popular to promise benefits than to pay for them. Workers in other medical and biomedical facilities (including Ambulatory Health and Surgical, Blood Banks, Medical Clinics, Community Mental Health Centers, Comprehensive Outpatient rehabilitation, Methadone/OBOT Clinics, 24 hour Diversionary and Residential Behavioral Health Providers, End Stage Renal Disease, Health Departments, Home Health care, Hospices, Hospitals, Rest Homes, Assisted Living Residences, Nursing Care Facilities, Organ Pharmacies, Procurement Organizations, Psychiatric Residential, Residential Treatment Schools, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, State Hospitals, licensed medical marijuana retailers, and retail facilities specializing in medical good and supplies). Use this button to show and access all levels. In response to these objections, Zlotnik said the bill is still very early in the process and said cost would be a major determining factor in any bonus payout to public workers, in an e-mail to the Boston Herald. 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. Blood and plasma donors and the employees of the organizations that operate and manage related activities. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Workers who support sawmills and the manufacture and distribution of fiber and forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood and fiber products. 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. Thank you for your website feedback! 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. https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator, Massachusetts Coalition For Occupational Safety And Health, Families of Fallen Workers Support Services, https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator, Worker Health and Safety Agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session, Essential Worker Bill of Rights in Massachusetts, Act to Prevent Wage Theft, Promote Employer Accountability, and Enhance Public Enforcement. Health Care Financing. Staff at government offices who perform title search, notary, and recording services in support of mortgage and real estate services and transactions. March 1, 2023. Workers who support the inspection and maintenance of aids to navigation, and other government provided services that ensure continued maritime commerce. Workers supporting production and distribution of debit and credit cards. 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. Retail fuel centers such as gas stations and truck stops, and the distribution systems that support them. Baker's administration and an advisory panel would determine who exactly qualifies as an "essential worker." 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. Drilling, production, processing, refining, and transporting natural gas for use as end-use fuels, feedstocks for chemical manufacturing, or use in electricity generation. For legislation to promote transparency and prevent price gouging of pharmaceutical drug prices. Please visit mass.gov/reopening for full details on the reopening plan.