Labor and Workforce Development

Sponsored Legislation

S.1202 An Act amending the unemployment insurance law for workers with fluctuating work schedules

This bill would fix a loophole in current unemployment insurance (UI) law. Currently, workers that have been employed for the same length of time and earned exactly the same amount of wages may have unequal access to UI benefits depending on how those wages were distributed between 2 calendar quarters of the year preceding their claim for benefits. This problem arises for workers whose average weekly wage and weekly benefit amount are calculated on the basis of wages paid in their high quarter. Deserving workers who earn different amounts of income in 2 quarters due to mandatory overtime, business slow-downs, or other work schedules over which they often have no control, or who earn money in 1 quarter but are not paid those wages until the next quarter, are denied UI eligibility unfairly.

Testimony from the May 18, 2021 Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development public hearing.

S.1203 An Act relative to establishing a prevailing wage for security guard services

This bill would mandate payment of a prevailing wage for security guard services contracted by the Commonwealth, similar to the existing prevailing wage requirement for cleaning and maintenance services.

Cosponsored Legislation

S.1179 An Act to prevent wage theft, promote employer accountability, and enhance public enforcement (DiDomenico)

HD4461 An Act relative to waivers for non-fault overpayments (Meschino)