Companion bill filed by Sen. Friedman, S.84 
This bill eliminates over time the existing pay disparity between the salaries of human service workers employed by community-based human service providers and state employees holding similar job titles who perform similar work. Due to this salary disparity, it is increasingly difficult for community-based organizations to recruit and retain qualified workers in the sector which has more than 156,000 jobs. Without such a solution, many jobs will continue to be unfilled leading to deterioration in the quality of services delivered to Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents.   

Joint Presenter: Rep. Hunt 
This legislation creates a uniform scale of maximum percentages that check cashers can charge for a variety of financial services, prohibits check cashers from charging more than $5 to establish a customer account, and increases the penalties for violations of consumer protections. Ultimately, the bill provides greater consumer protections for unbanked and underbanked individuals that rely on check cashing stores as a primary provider of financial services.

Obtaining a state identification card is a critical step in accomplishing typical life tasks and accessing opportunities for youth and adults experiencing homelessness. Unfortunately, given the barriers to obtaining IDs, people experiencing homelessness often have difficulties applying for jobs, enrolling in education programs, getting a library card, picking up a package from the post office and accessing services. This bill establishes a fee waiver process for youth and adults experiencing homelessness and directs the RMV to allow those who are experiencing homelessness to submit residency documentation from providers of homelessness services and state agencies under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 

Companion bill filed by Sen. Lovely, S.386 
This bill requires Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) to provide each senior, upon enrollment, a separate disclosure clearly explaining the entrance fee policy. Thousands of seniors across the Commonwealth reside in CCRCs, and an entrance fee is typically required upon moving in. However, the entrance fee is not returned to the individual, their family, or estate until the vacated unit is rented, which can often take months or years. Many seniors and their families do not understand this timeline and become frustrated when they move, or when their circumstances change.

Companion bill filed by Sen. Gomez, S.94 
This legislation aims to aid the over 3,000 unhoused youth in the Commonwealth. Currently, the age of consent for supportive services is 18. This bill will allow unaccompanied minors between 15 and 18 years old to consent to supportive services and shelter without a parent or guardian, if those services are necessary to ensure their wellbeing.