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Bill

S 1374

Provides additional compensation to certain city employees who possess and use foreign languages in performance of duties

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gustavo Rivera and 1 co-sponsor

Requires employers not to make quarantined employees use accrued earned sick time; preserves sick leave balances during COVID/medical quarantine; may use other paid/unpaid leave.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1374

Summary — S.1374 (Sen. Bruce E. Tarr): "An Act relative to mandated use of paid time off for quarantine purposes"

NOTE: The packet of materials supplied included multiple, inconsistent texts (including a New Jersey tax‑credit draft and other metadata). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text provided under Senate No. 1374 — titled “An Act relative to mandated use of paid time off for quarantine purposes” — which appears to amend Chapter 149 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Main purpose

Prevent employers or health mandates from forcing employees who are ordered to quarantine (for COVID‑19 or other medical illnesses) to exhaust their accrued earned sick time in order to cover hours missed due to quarantine.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section to Chapter 149 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • States, “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and specifically notwithstanding section 148C,” that an employee who is mandated to quarantine because of COVID‑19 or other medical illness — whether the quarantine is required by statute, health regulation, or by their employer’s regulations — shall not be required to use accrued earned sick time to cover hours missed due to that quarantine.
  • Takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Employees covered by Massachusetts Chapter 149 (state labor law) who are subject to a mandated quarantine order or employer quarantine rules.
  • Employers in Massachusetts (private and possibly public employers covered under Chapter 149), who will no longer be permitted to require use of accrued earned sick time for mandated quarantines.
  • Collective bargaining parties may also be affected where Chapter 149 interacts with bargaining agreements.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Employees: preserves accrued sick leave balances when quarantine is mandated; reduces pressure to exhaust sick time for quarantine absences.
  • Employers: may need to provide alternative paid leave or allow unpaid leave for mandated quarantine periods; potential payroll/administrative implications; possible increase in labor costs depending on employer policies and practice.
  • Enforcement and remedies: the bill text does not specify a new penalty or enforcement mechanism beyond the statutory framework of Chapter 149; disputes would likely be resolved under existing labor‑law enforcement channels.
  • Interaction with other laws: the provision explicitly overrides section 148C and any conflicting laws; further legal interpretation may be needed to reconcile with collective‑bargaining terms or federal leave requirements.

Procedural status (as provided)

  • Introduced / filed Jan 9, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 224); presented by Sen. Bruce E. Tarr.
  • Text states the act takes effect upon passage.
  • Other listed legislative actions in the supplied materials are inconsistent; available authoritative status should be confirmed from the official Massachusetts legislative website for up‑to‑date committee referrals and hearings.

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

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