Bill > H2131

This bill modifies Section 27 of Chapter 152 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which governs workers' compensation benefits, to clarify the circumstances under which an employee may be denied benefits due to serious willful misconduct. Specifically, the bill states that if an employee is injured as a result of serious willful misconduct, including being intoxicated or unlawfully using controlled substances as defined in Chapter 94C, they will not receive workers' compensation benefits. However, the bill importantly preserves a critical exception: if the employee's misconduct-related injury results in death, their dependents can still receive compensation benefits. This change aims to balance workplace safety standards with protecting the financial security of workers' families in the most extreme circumstances, such as when a worker's impaired state leads to a fatal workplace accident.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2131