summary
Introduced
01/20/2015
01/20/2015
In Committee
08/03/2015
08/03/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016
07/31/2016
Introduced Session
189th General Court
Bill Summary
For legislation to require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions for employees or prospective employees. Labor and Workforce Development.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, aims to ensure that employers provide reasonable accommodations for employees and job applicants experiencing conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related issues, such as the need to express breast milk. It amends existing law to explicitly include "pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition" as a protected category, preventing employers from denying necessary accommodations unless they can prove it would cause an "undue hardship," meaning significant difficulty or expense. The bill also prohibits employers from taking negative actions against employees who request or use accommodations, denying employment opportunities based on accommodation needs, forcing employees to accept accommodations they don't want, requiring leave when an accommodation is possible, or asking about pregnancy-related conditions before hiring. "Reasonable accommodations" are broadly defined to include things like more frequent breaks, time off for recovery, modified equipment, or private spaces for expressing breast milk, with specific limitations on what employers are required to do. The bill mandates that employers engage in a good-faith interactive process to determine accommodations and requires them to post notices about these rights and provide them to new and existing employees, as well as those who notify their employer of a pregnancy. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women will also conduct educational efforts to inform everyone about their rights and responsibilities under this new law.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment
Sponsors (62)
Joan Lovely (D)*,
Ellen Story (D)*,
Brian Ashe (D),
Ruth Balser (D),
Christine Barber (D),
Paul Brodeur (D),
Will Brownsberger (D),
Gailanne Cariddi (D),
Marjorie Decker (D),
Sal DiDomenico (D),
Dan Donahue (D),
Eileen Donoghue (D),
Benjamin Downing (D),
Michelle DuBois (D),
Carolyn Dykema (D),
Lori Ehrlich (D),
Jamie Eldridge (D),
Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),
Michael Finn (D),
Carole Fiola (D),
Linda Forry (D),
Gloria Fox (D),
Sean Garballey (D),
Colleen Garry (D),
Anne Gobi (D),
Carlos González (D),
Ken Gordon (D),
Danielle Gregoire (D),
Jonathan Hecht (D),
Paul Heroux (D),
Pat Jehlen (D),
Louis Kafka (D),
Mary Keefe (D),
Kay Khan (D),
Peter Kocot (D),
Stephen Kulik (D),
Barbara L'Italien (D),
Eric Lesser (D),
Jason Lewis (D),
Jay Livingstone (D),
Timothy Madden (D),
Elizabeth Malia (D),
Brian Mannal (D),
Paul Mark (D),
Mike Moore (D),
Jim O'Day (D),
Marc Pacheco (D),
Sarah Peake (D),
Smitty Pignatelli (D),
Denise Provost (D),
Dave Rogers (D),
Tom Sannicandro (D),
Frank Smizik (D),
Todd Smola (R),
Benjamin Swan (D),
Timothy Toomey (D),
José Tosado (D),
Steve Ultrino (D),
Aaron Vega (D),
John Velis (D),
Chris Walsh (D),
James Welch (D),
Last Action
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (on 08/03/2015)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H1769 |
| Bill | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H1769.pdf |
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