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S 1293

Prevents the financial exploitation of older and vulnerable adults

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a temporary commission to study costs, funding options, and equity impacts of universal paid family and medical leave for Mass. public and quasi-public employees.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
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Bill Summary · S 1293

Summary — S.1293 (Senate Docket No. 2215)

Resolve to establish a special commission on paid family and medical leave for public employees

Note: the official bill text filed as Senate No. 1293 (Docket No. 2215) creates a study commission on paid family and medical leave for public employees. The header information you provided (a different title, and a list of sponsors including federal/state names) conflicts with the bill text. This summary is based on the bill text (Joanne M. Comerford, Senate No. 1293).

Purpose

Create a temporary (special) commission to study the socio‑economic effects and potential funding mechanisms for providing universal paid family and medical leave to all public and quasi‑public employees in Massachusetts, consistent with chapter 175M of the General Laws.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a special commission under section 2A of chapter 4 to:
    • Estimate costs of providing universal paid family and medical leave to all public and quasi‑public employees.
    • Identify available or potential funding mechanisms to implement such coverage.
    • Analyze socio‑economic impacts on workforce and economic development both of providing and of not providing universal coverage.
    • Assess equity gaps in leave coverage for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and historically marginalized communities.
    • Issue implementation recommendations.
  • Membership and staffing:
    • Co‑chairs: House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.
    • Members: Governor (or designee); leaders or designees from both legislative chambers (Speaker, Senate President, House/Senate minority leaders); chairs of Joint Committees on Education and on Municipalities & Regional Government (or designees); representatives from the Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on the Status of African Americans, and Commission on the Status of Latinos and Latinas.
    • One appointee each from: Massachusetts Municipal Association; Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation; Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; Massachusetts Teachers Association; and SEIU Local 509.
    • Department of Revenue shall provide technical assistance as needed.
  • Compensation and logistics:
    • Members are unpaid but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
    • Commission must hold at least three public hearings across the Commonwealth.
    • Final report due on or before July 30, 2026; report to be posted on the Legislature’s website and sent to relevant secretaries and legislative leaders.

Who would be affected

  • Primary focus: public and quasi‑public employees in Massachusetts (employees of state agencies, municipalities, and quasi‑public entities).
  • Secondary: state budget and finance officials, municipalities, employers, labor unions, taxpayers, and communities experiencing coverage and equity gaps.

Potential impact

  • Provides policymakers with cost estimates, funding options, equity analyses, and practical recommendations to extend universal paid family and medical leave to public employees.
  • Could inform future legislation or budget decisions to expand leave coverage, address equity gaps, and identify sustainable funding sources.
  • If recommendations lead to enactment, impacts could include changes to payroll costs, employer/employee contributions, and leave access for public sector workers.

Timeline & legislative status (from provided record)

  • Filed as Senate Docket No. 2215 / Senate No. 1293 (filed 1/17/2025). Introduced in Senate 4/03/2025.
  • Referrals (as recorded): to Labor and Workforce Development (2/27/2025); to Consumer Protection (1/09/2025 — conflicting entries present); Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance (4/03/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: 07/22/2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM).
  • Reported favorably by committee (dates in October 2025) and referred to Senate Ways & Means, then to Rules in both branches (per provided sequence).
  • Commission report due July 30, 2026.

Notes / Data inconsistencies

  • The provided title ("Prevents the financial exploitation of older and vulnerable adults") and listed sponsors (e.g., Rand Paul) do not match the bill text or known Massachusetts sponsor (Joanne M. Comerford). This summary relies on the bill text that establishes the paid family and medical leave commission. If you want a summary based on another version or bill, please provide that text.

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

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