Jehlen (D-Somerville) to establish a commission on the solvency of the UI trust fund to pursue long-term solutions for solvency. The Senate accepted an amendment from Senator Patricia D. The bill therefore authorizes up to $7 billion worth of borrowing to replenish the UI trust fund and to repay all federal UI loans, funded by an employer charge, and creates a separate time-limited employer assessment to repay interest on federal UI loans by their due dates to ensure the solvency of the UI trust fund. The COVID-19 public health crisis has created a surge of pandemic-related unemployment claims, which has depleted the Commonwealth’s unemployment trust fund, necessitating borrowing from the federal government to pay out those benefits. The state requirement for paid leave would extend until Septemor until the fund is exhausted. For all other employers, the bill creates a $75 million COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund to reimburse eligible employers for providing their employees with emergency paid sick leave. Employers covered by federal legislation providing for paid leave will have the cost of providing such leave paid for through the federal tax credit. Under this legislation, employees are eligible for up to five days of paid leave, at their regular rate of pay, capped at $850 per week-which is the same maximum weekly benefit provided for in the Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) law. “I'm very pleased that emergency paid sick time is included within this legislation, and grateful to my colleagues, the Raise Up coalition and business leaders for working collaboratively to make this possible." “No worker should have to choose between staying home if they risk spreading COVID-19 and earning a paycheck to support their family, but unfortunately this impossible choice faces many workers who do not have adequate job-protected paid sick leave during this pandemic, especially low-income essential workers," said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). In addition, the legislation provides for leave if the worker needs time to care for a family member unable to work because of COVID. Significantly, given the state’s push to increase vaccination rates, employees will be able to use this paid leave time to take time off to receive the vaccine. To help protect employees on the front lines, and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, this bill ensures that all workers in Massachusetts have access to paid leave if they are unable to work as a result of a COVID-19 infection or a quarantine order. Time is of the essence, so I look forward to this comprehensive relief package becoming law.” I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership, Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their ongoing partnership, and especially the many members of the Senate who reached out to me directly and provided invaluable input on the bill, including Senators Jehlen, Lewis and Lesser. “With more people getting vaccinated by the day, and our economy re-opening, this bill will bring much needed relief to small businesses, keep our essential front line workers safe, and target tax relief to lift up low-income families who lost jobs during this pandemic. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “As we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of the collective action taken by the Senate and House to pass this comprehensive bill that strikes a balance to help businesses, workers, and jumpstart an equitable recovery for our Commonwealth,” stated Senator Michael J. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 emergency, these measures will provide stability to our economy, and keep workers safe.” I am grateful to Senators Rodrigues, Lewis, Lesser and Jehlen for their contributions to this legislative package, and I am also thankful for our partners in the House, especially Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz, for their willingness to work quickly to get this done. “I am proud of the collaboration that brought about this agreement, which will provide needed relief for both businesses and workers. “In January, I declared that we must act quickly to provide our workers with COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave, and today the Senate has delivered on that promise,” stated Senate President Karen E. The bill also seeks to stabilize the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund, provides substantial tax relief to businesses and workers, and delays the state tax filing deadline. Spilka promised swift action on COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a comprehensive bill that would guarantee five paid days off for every employee in the Commonwealth. Ten weeks after Senate President Karen E.
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