1199ers Unveil 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda

Agenda Legislativa Completa | 完整的立法议程

The pandemic has impacted our healthcare system forever. It has exposed inadequacies that have been ignored for far too long, pushing caregivers out of the industry, and putting the health of those we care for at risk.

The present state of care isn’t working for the majority of us.

This is our moment to re-imagine the future of care that works for us all, and that starts with us leading the conversation.

By telling our stories, advocating for policies that invest in us and our communities, and winning contracts that protect good jobs and strengthen care, we are shaping the future of care.

For our policy agenda, it was informed by YOU. 1199ers completed a survey at the end of 2022 that lifted up wages and staffing as critical areas that impact home care, health systems, and long-term care. Those priorities are reflected below in the bills below:

Statewide Minimum Wage and Enhanced Care Worker Minimum Wages

An Act Relative to Raise the Minimum Wage Closer to a Living Wage in the Commonwealth (Lewis; SD2032)
An Act to Establish a Hospital and Community Health Center Worker Minimum Wage (Mark/Fluker-Oakley; SD1947/HD2995)
An Act to Promote an Enhanced Care Worker Minimum Wage (R. Kennedy/Nguyen; SD1285/ HD636)

Nursing Homes

An Act to Address the Overuse of Temporary Nursing Service Agencies at Massachusetts Skilled Nursing Facilities (Miranda/Balser; SD1042/HD3451)
An Act to Improve Quality and Oversight of Long-Term Care (Jehlen/Stanley; SD1244/HD2564)

Home Care Agencies & the Personal Care Attendant Program

An Act to improve Massachusetts home care (Jehlen/Stanley; SD1245/HD2201)
An Act to Improve Infection Control in Massachusetts Home Care (SD877/HD1013)

Health Systems - Hospitals, Community Health Centers & Other

An Act to Promote the Recruitment and Retention of Hospital Workers (Cyr/Moran; SD386/HD347)
An Act to Prohibit Mandatory Overtime (Oliveira/Cahill; SD731/HD3477)

In addition to legislation that invests in our workplaces, it is important that we invest in our communities too. The 1199SEIU Massachusetts regional executive council recently endorsed the following coalition bills that touch on housing, health equity, and more.

Housing and Rent Stablization - An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants (Rep. Rogers/Sen. Jehlen; HD3953/SD1818)
Health Equity and Reforms
1. An Act to advance health equity (Rep. Williams/Sen. Payano; HD2257/SD1351)
2. An Act expanding affordable coverage through ConnectorCare (Rep. Driscoll/Sen. Cronin; HD3361/SD1950)
3. An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency (Sen. Friedman; SD2232)
4. An Act to ensure prescription drug cost transparency and affordability (Rep. Barber; HD2503)
5. An Act to ensure equitable health coverage for children (Rep. Rogers/Sen. DiDomenico; HD2143/SD778
Long-Term Care Reforms
1. An Act relative to certified medication aides (Rep. Murray/Sen. Tarr; HD886/SD127)
2. An Act clarifying rate setting processes for home health and home care services (Rep. Gentile/Sen. Jehlen;HD213/SD854)
3. An Act relative to transparency and accountability in nursing homes (Rep. Sally Kerans/Sen. Jehlen; HD3398/SD880)
4. An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers (Rep. Scanlon/Sen. Comerford; HD3284/SD1974
5. An Act relative to cueing and supervision in the PCA program (Rep. O’Day/Sen. Lovely; HD1986/SD283)
Hospital Workplace Violence - An Act requiring health care employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence (Rep. Garlick/Sen. Lovely; HD1835/SD580)
Reproductive Health
1. An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care (Rep., Sabadosa/Sen. Friedman; HD.1582/SD.1132)
2. An Act Relative to Medicaid Coverage for Doula Services (Rep. Sabadosa/Sen. Miranda; HD.2452, SD.1638)
Protecting Fair Share Investments
1. An Act to protect the intent of the Fair Share Amendment (Rep. O’Day/Sen. Lewis; HD2236/SD1166)
2. An Act preventing high-income tax avoidance (Rep. O’Day/Sen. Lewis; HD2310/SD1167)
Strengthening Immigrant Rights - An Act relative to language access and inclusion (Sen. DiDomenico/Rep. Madaro; SD1066/HD3616)
Early Education and Child Care - An Act providing affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth (Sen. Lewis/Rep. Gordan; SD667/HD2794)
Improving Paid Family and Medical Leave - An Act improving the Massachusetts paid family medical leave law (Rep. Gordon/Sen. Lewis; HD1063/SD102)