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S 1472

An Act relative to EMS leave without loss of pay

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Rush

Massachusetts bill mandating employers provide paid leave to EMS personnel responding to emergency calls during work hours without compensation loss.

Accompanied a study order, see S2717
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Bill Summary · S 1472

Legislative bill overview

S 1472 would require employers to grant emergency medical services (EMS) personnel paid leave when they are called to respond to emergency situations during work hours. The bill aims to prevent EMS workers from losing compensation when they must leave their primary employment to fulfill emergency response duties.

Why is this important

EMS personnel often work secondary jobs or maintain employment while serving in volunteer or part-time EMS roles. Without paid leave protections, these workers face financial penalties for answering emergency calls, creating a disincentive to emergency response. This policy attempts to reconcile the civic duty of emergency response with employment security and income protection.

Potential points of contention

  • Employer burden: Small businesses and organizations may face operational and financial challenges accommodating frequent, unpredictable absences, particularly in understaffed workplaces
  • Scope and definitions: Ambiguity around which EMS roles qualify, what constitutes a legitimate call, call duration limits, and geographic coverage could create implementation disputes
  • Fairness to other workers: Questions about whether similar protections should extend to firefighters, police, or other emergency responders, and whether this creates unfair compensation advantages

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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