Bill > H3197

This bill aims to enhance natural gas workforce safety in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Requiring the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to establish performance-based rates and service quality standards for natural gas companies, including benchmarks for employee staffing levels and training programs, to ensure pipeline safety during the transition to net-zero emissions. 2. Mandating natural gas companies to submit "just transition plans" detailing their workforce development, maintenance, and attrition strategies as they move towards net-zero emissions. 3. Prohibiting natural gas companies from engaging in labor displacement or staffing reductions below January 2022 levels without meeting certain conditions, such as compliance with just transition laws and collective bargaining agreements. 4. Establishing an alternative dispute resolution process for customer damage claims under $100 and requiring the DPU to issue biannual reports on consumer claims. 5. Amending the law to require natural gas infrastructure replacement plans, including timelines and interim targets for leak reduction and infrastructure upgrades, with potential penalties for missed targets. 6. Creating new sections in state law to address workforce development, training, and employment opportunities for workers adversely affected by the transition to clean energy, including tax credits for dual-fuel and alternative energy companies that hire displaced workers. 7. Mandating that all natural gas infrastructure construction and repair work not performed by company employees be subject to prevailing wage requirements.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3197