Relates to providing additional reimbursement to school districts for expenses incurred for failure to receive timely payments of state aid

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Tedisco

The bill changes the Assisted Living Advisory Council’s composition and terms, adding legislative appointing roles, more consumer seats, and coterminous terms with the governor.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Summary — S. 469 (Massachusetts, 2025): “An Act further regulating the Assisted Living Advisory Council”

Note on documents provided: the bill text and docket identify this as a Massachusetts Senate bill filed by Senator Patricia D. Jehlen concerning the Assisted Living Advisory Council (chapter 19D, section 17). Some accompanying metadata (title about school district reimbursements and a list of U.S. senators as sponsors) appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary follows the actual bill language submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature.

Key provisions

Adds legislative designees to appointment authority: inserts “the speaker of the house or his designee, the senate president or her designee” among appointing authorities alongside the secretary of health and human services (or designee).

Increases the number of certain members from “three” to “five.”

Requires that among the consumer-interest members at least one be a representative of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, Inc. and one be a representative of LeadingAge.

Changes member term structure: replaces fixed “one year” terms with terms “coterminous with the governor.” Adds that vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(These changes are achieved by amending specific lines in section 17 of chapter 19D as shown in the bill text.)

Who is affected / likely impacts

Assisted Living Advisory Council: composition, membership balance, and appointment process will change.

Providers and trade associations: Massachusetts Assisted Living Association and LeadingAge will have guaranteed designated representation.

State executive and legislative leadership: the Speaker and Senate President gain direct appointment/designee roles, increasing legislative involvement in council appointments.

Residents, families, and consumer advocates: an increase in “consumer interest” seats (and specified organizational seats) may alter advocacy dynamics on the council.

Policy outcomes: aligning terms with the governor may increase turnover aligned with gubernatorial transitions and make council composition more politically synchronized with the executive branch.

Procedural status & timeline (from provided actions)

Filed / Docketed: 1/15/2025 (Senate Docket No. 1030)

Introduced in Senate / Read twice and referred: 02/06/2025

Referred to various committees (dates in records include Elder Affairs; Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Aging and Independence)

Hearing scheduled: 05/12/2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM, A-1)

Current status listed: REFERRED TO EDUCATION (records contain multiple committee referrals—see note below)

Notes / data inconsistencies

The bill text clearly amends Massachusetts General Laws chapter 19D, section 17 (Assisted Living Advisory Council). Other metadata (bill title referencing school-district reimbursements and a list of federal senators as sponsors) conflicts with that text and appears erroneous or from a different measure. Readers should treat the Jehlen-filed Massachusetts bill text as authoritative for substance.

Bill