An Act establishing a sick leave bank for Eric J. Iwaniec

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donnie Berthiaume

Establish a Massachusetts Trial Court sick leave bank to donate and use days for Eric J. Iwaniec’s illness, with remaining days transferred if dissolved.

Summary of Bill HD 1490: An Act establishing a sick leave bank for Eric J. Iwaniec

Overview

Purpose: Establish a sick leave bank to benefit Eric J. Iwaniec, an employee connected to the Massachusetts Trial Court system.

Status: Proposed bill in the 2025-2026 session. Introduced November 29, 2025 (House Docket information shows related filing January 15, 2025).

Sponsor: Representative Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. and Senator Peter J. Durant.

Similar prior filing: The measure has a related history (references to a similar matter filed in 2023-2024 as House No. 5053).

Key Provisions

Establishment: The Massachusetts Trial Court shall establish a sick leave bank specifically for Eric J. Iwaniec.

Donations: Any employee of the Department may voluntarily donate one or more days of their sick, personal, or vacation leave to the sick leave bank for Eric Iwaniec’s use.

Use of donated days: Days in the sick leave bank may be used to cover absences related to the illness or disability that necessitated creating the bank, as determined by the Department.

Dissolution and transfer: If Eric Iwaniec terminates employment or requests the dissolution of the sick leave bank, any remaining days in the bank shall be transferred to the extended illness leave bank.

Limitations on use: Bank days cannot be used for absences unrelated to the illness or disability that led to the bank’s establishment.

Administration and Implementation

Administration: The bill assigns responsibility to the Massachusetts Trial Court (and referenced “Department”) to manage contributions and use of the bank, with illness-related use authorized by the Department.

Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected Parties and Potential Impact

Beneficiary: Eric J. Iwaniec (the individual for whom the sick leave bank is established).

Donors: Employees of the Department who choose to donate sick, personal, or vacation days.

Broader workforce: Other Trial Court/Department employees may be impacted by the creation of the bank, including administrative practices for sick leave management.

Operational impact: Establishment and administration of the bank may require internal policies on eligibility, verification of illness/disability, donation tracking, and transfer of unused days to the extended illness leave bank if dissolution occurs.

Notes

The bill's text emphasizes voluntary contributions and illness-focused use, with a clear mechanism for transfer of remaining days if the bank is dissolved.

For a complete understanding, reviewing the final enacted language and any accompanying fiscal or regulatory analyses would be helpful.