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S 1372

Requires disclosure terms relating to prepaid calling cards to be provided in languages other than English and increases fines for violations of disclosure requirements

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker and 1 co-sponsor

Sets the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board with three governor-appointed members (labor, municipal management, neutral), five-year staggered terms, independence, and limited

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 1372

Summary — S.1372 (2025): “An Act relative to the structure of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board”

Note on metadata inconsistency
- The bill text filed as Senate No. 1372 (filed 1/7/2025, presented by Senator Bruce E. Tarr) concerns the structure and appointment rules for the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB). Several items in the provided metadata (a title referring to prepaid calling cards, a long list of U.S. Senators as sponsors, and some committee references) appear unrelated or inconsistent with the text. This summary focuses on the statutory text filed with the Massachusetts Senate.

Purpose and intent
- To revise Subsection (a) of Section 9R of Chapter 23 of the Massachusetts General Laws to define the composition, appointment process, term lengths, independence, and removal standard for the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (the “board”). The aim is to codify member representation, preserve board independence, and establish staggered five‑year terms.

Key provisions (as proposed)
- Composition
- The board will consist of three members appointed by the Governor.
- One member must be a representative of organized labor, chosen from a list of three candidates provided by the president of the Massachusetts AFL‑CIO.
- One member must be a representative of municipal management, chosen from a list of three candidates provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
- One member must be a neutral (no specific nominating list specified).

  • Independence and oversight

    • The board is placed in the Department of Labor Relations but “in no respect” subject to the jurisdiction of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, except the Secretary may make reasonable requests for shared information that do not interfere with the board’s independent functioning.

  • Terms, vacancies, and political balance

    • Each member serves a five‑year term.
    • Terms must be staggered so that a term expires every two years (the appointment lengths may be shortened to achieve staggering).
    • Vacancies are filled by the same appointment method.
    • No more than two members may be from the same political party.
    • Successors are appointed in the same manner upon term expiration.

  • Removal

    • A member may be removed by the Governor only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office (no other causes authorized).

Who would be affected
- The Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (institutional structure and operations).
- Labor organizations (Massachusetts AFL‑CIO) and municipal management (Massachusetts Municipal Association), which gain formal nomination roles.
- Municipal employers, public employees, and other parties participating in CERB proceedings, potentially affected by any changes in board composition, independence, and decisionmaking continuity.
- The Governor’s appointment authority is shaped by required nominee lists and political balance limits.

Procedural and timeline notes (from provided actions)
- Filed / Presented: 1/7/2025 (Senate Docket No. 73 / Senate No. 1372).
- Introduced in Senate: 2025-04-09 (read twice and referred to Committee on Finance per metadata).
- Referred to committee(s): entries show referrals to Labor & Workforce Development and to Energy & Telecommunications (metadata inconsistent/duplicative).
- Hearings: hearings were scheduled and rescheduled for 11/20/2025 (details in metadata).
- Some entries in the action log are duplicated and dates appear inconsistent (e.g., House concurrence entries and earlier referrals); these should be verified against official legislative records.

Related measures
- The metadata lists related or prior-session bills (e.g., S.949, S.3730, S.3455, HR 2764 companion, SD 73 replacement). Confirm relationships via the Legislature’s bill tracking system for context and history.

Impact considerations
- Clarifies and formalizes stakeholder representation on CERB (explicit labor and municipal management seats).
- Strengthens board independence from the Executive Office while allowing limited information sharing.
- Staggered terms and political balance provisions aim to promote continuity and bipartisanship, potentially affecting rulings and institutional stability.

For authoritative status, text, and updates, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official bill page for Senate No. 1372.

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

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