Authorizes $627 Million for COVID-19 Recovery prioritizing small business relief, support for workers, and housing development

BOSTON– On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature passed $627 million in funding for a sweeping economic recovery and development bill, providing critical support to businesses, investments in infrastructure, and creation of new jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law on January 14, 2021. 

An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth is a COVID-19 relief and recovery package that provides support to the restaurant and tourism sectors, small businesses, and those who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill also creates a Future of Work Commission, establishes protections for student loan borrowers, and ushers in zoning reforms to encourage affordable housing development in our communities. 

“I am very pleased that this legislation is now law so that we can provide much-need relief to our small business community and the parts of our economy that have been hardest hit by this pandemic,” said Senator DiDomenico. “While the capital investments in this bill will reach every part of our Commonwealth, this legislation will have a profound impact on our district in particular. I was proud to vote for this COVID relief package, and I look forward to continue working with my colleagues in the Legislature to ensure that our communities receive the support and resources that we need and deserve during these trying times.”

Included in this economic development law is critical language limiting the fees charged by third-party delivery services, like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub. From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator DiDomenico began advocating for a cap on delivery fees to protect local restaurants during the COVID-19 state of emergency. 

“I heard from many restaurant owners on this specific issue, especially as the industry has transitioned to take-out and delivery service during the COVID emergency,” said DiDomenico. “My district is a hub for independently owned restaurants and these small businesses are in large part what make our community so vibrant. The restaurant industry throughout the Commonwealth has taken a terrible hit during this crisis, and it is the very least we can do to protect them from predatory practices.” 

The new law limits fees charged by third-party delivery services for restaurants to 15% during the COVID-19 state of emergency and prohibits third-party delivery service companies from reducing rates for delivery drivers or garnishing gratuities as result of the limitation.

An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth also includes the following bonding authorizations and policy changes:

COVID-19 pandemic relief and recovery

Bonding Authorizations

• $30 million for the state’s COVID-19 Payroll Protection Program

• $20 million for restaurant COVID-19 recovery grants

Policy Changes

• Creates a commission to examine and make recommendations on addressing the recovery of the cultural and creative sector, including the arts, humanities and sciences, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

Housing

Bonding Authorizations

• $40 million for a program to redevelop blighted buildings

• $50 million for transit-oriented housing developments

• $10 million for climate-resilient affordable housing developments

• $5 million for a Gateway Cities housing program

Policy Changes

• Implements zoning reform to help cities and towns approve smart growth zoning and affordable housing by lowering the required vote threshold for a range of housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority

• Requires designated MBTA communities to be zoned for at least one district of reasonable size, in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and requires such housing to be suitable for families with children

• Increases the state low-income housing tax credit program cap from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000

Employee protections, business growth, and equity

Bonding Authorizations

• $35 million for a Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation matching grant program to community development financial institutions for small business loans and grants

• $27.7 million for a new Employment Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program

• $20 million for a Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation small business grant program

• $14M million for travel and tourism grants

• $10 million for regional and community assistance planning grants

Policy Changes

• Enables, via local option, the creation of tourism destination marketing districts ("TDMDs"), made up of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts, for the purpose of generating local revenue dedicated solely for the promotion and marketing of specific regions of the Commonwealth

• Amends the statutory definition of wait staff employee to include a person in a quick service restaurant who prepares or serves food or beverages as part of a team of counter staff

• Provides that the taking of family or medical leave shall not affect an employee's right to accrue vacation time, sick leave, bonuses, advancement, seniority, length-of-service credit or other employment benefits, plans or programs

• Exempts natural hair braiding from the definition of hairdressing, and exempts natural hair braiding from rules and regulations pertaining to aesthetics, barbering, cosmetology, electrolysis, hairdressing and manicuring

• Encourages the PRIM Board to use minority investment managers to manage PRIT Fund assets, where appropriate, and to increase the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of Fund investments

• Establishes a commission of experts, industry members, academics, and elected officials to research and propose policy solutions that ensure the future and sustainability of local journalism in Massachusetts

Student protections

• Establishes a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights regulating the licensing and operation of student loan servicers by the Commissioner of Banks

• Creates a Student Loan Ombudsman within the Office of the Attorney General for the purpose of receiving, reviewing and assisting in the resolution of complaints from student loan borrowers; authorizes the Ombudsman to assist with repayment options, applying for federal loan forgiveness programs, ending wage and tax refund garnishments, resolving billing disputes, and obtaining loan details

Agriculture and rural support

Bonding Authorizations

• $20 million for rural community development and infrastructure grants

• $2 million for an urban agriculture grant program

Policy Changes

• Expands the Food Policy Council to include an expert in healthy soil practices; codifies the definition of ‘healthy soils;’ gives the Commission for Conservation of Soil and Water the ability to establish a Massachusetts Healthy Soils Program and Fund

Technology and innovation

Bonding Authorizations

• $52 million for the Technology Research and Development and Innovation Fund

• $15 million for lottery IT infrastructure

• $10 million for the expansion of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2)

• $5 million for the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund

Policy Changes

• Creates a special commission on the future of work to conduct a comprehensive study relative to the impact of automation, artificial intelligence, global trade, access to new forms of data and the internet of things on the workforce, businesses and economy.

• Clarifies that car sharing platforms may obtain insurance coverage from non-admitted carrier and that car sharing platforms do not need their own insurance-producer or broker licenses to offer or maintain insurance policies for carsharing vehicles or drivers.

Other bonding authorizations include  

• $102,304,000 for local economic development projects;

• $12.5 million for the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation;

• $15 million for trial court virtual mediation services;

• $6 million for Massachusetts Cultural Council grants;

• $5 million for Mass Cultural Council public school grants;

• $20 million for Mass Cultural Council cultural facilities grants;

• $15 million for vocational technical school expansion grants; and

• $15 million for higher education workforce grants.

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BOSTON– The Massachusetts Legislature has passed breakthrough climate legislation that overhauls the state’s climate laws, drives down greenhouse gas emissions, and creates clean energy jobs. The bill, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, includes major changes to the way the Commonwealth approaches statewide climate change policy and historic environmental justice language taken from legislation sponsored by State Senator Sal DiDomenico. Senator DiDomenico was a lead sponsor of the Environmental Justice Act, and worked with his colleagues Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representatives Liz Miranda, Adrian Madaro, and Michelle DuBois on this important issue throughout the last session.

“I am absolutely thrilled that these key environmental justice provisions were included in this historic climate change bill,” said Senator DiDomenico. “Time and again, cities like Chelsea and Everett have been disproportionately impacted by our long history of short-sighted environmental policies, and we have taken on this toxic burden for our entire region. Moving forward, this legislation ensures that EJ communities have a seat at the table and a voice when decisions are made that impact their homes and their health. There are many landmark components of this bill, but this provision in particular is so important for our community. I am very grateful to the incredible EJ organizations, like Chelsea’s own GreenRoots for their fierce advocacy on this; their tireless work has yielded a big win for EJ communities across the Commonwealth.”

Critically, for the first very first time, this bill codifies environmental justice into Massachusetts law, defining Environmental Justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods. It also requires each climate roadmap plan to improve or mitigate economic, environmental, and public health impacts on EJ populations and low- and moderate-income individuals. 

The legislation also includes, among other items, the following provisions:

• Sets a statewide net zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limits every five years, as well as limits for specific sectors of the economy, including transportation and buildings.

• Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind, building on previous legislation action and increases the total to 5,600 megawatts in the Commonwealth.

• Directs the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), regulator of the state's electric and natural gas utilities, to balance priorities going forward: system safety, system security, reliability, affordability, equity, and, significantly, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliance including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances.

• Adopts several measures aimed at improves gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations and regulations related to training and certifying utility contractors.

• Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 3 percent each year from 2025 – 2029, resulting in 40 percent renewable energy by 2030.

• Establishes an opt-in municipal net zero energy stretch code, including a definition of “net zero building.”

• Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities

• Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in order to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

• Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help offset their electricity use and save money.

• Requires utilities to include an explicit value for greenhouse gas reductions when they calculate the cost-effectiveness of an offering of MassSave.

• Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants that requires them to purchase 50 percent non-emitting electricity by 2030 and “net zero” by 2050.

• Sets benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage, heat pumps and anaerobic digestors.

This bill now pending before the Governor.

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BOSTON – Senator Sal DiDomenico recently joined with his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature in passing a Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget to invest in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $46.2 billion, the budget aims to address the sweeping effects of the global pandemic and makes targeted investments in Senator DiDomenico’s top priorities, including housing, food security, early education, children and families, and public health.

 “Despite these unprecedented times, I am confident that the Fiscal Year 2021 budget we put forth is a strong and compassionate one; one that meets many of our most pressing needs, centers our most vulnerable populations, and moves our entire Commonwealth towards an equitable recovery,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico. It makes critical investments in sectors most severely impacted by COVID-19 and focuses on many of the areas that have been my greatest concern throughout the course of this pandemic, including food security, housing supports, childcare, and public health. I know that in the Senate, each Senator had a voice in crafting our budget, and I am truly grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for ensuring that many of our community’s most urgent needs were included in this final FY21 budget.”

 Continuing the Legislature’s support of targeted investments in education, this budget provides $5.283 billion in Chapter 70 education funding, an increase of $107.6 million over Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). The education budget allocations include: 

• $53 million in COVID-related student supports;

• $345.2 million for Circuit Breaker Special Education reimbursement;

• $117 million for Charter School Reimbursement; and

• $82 million for Regional School Transportation reimbursement.

Due to the pandemic, access to safe and affordable housing for many families across the Commonwealth has taken on new urgency. This budget makes targeted investments into rental and housing assistance to support families, tenants and property owners during this time of crisis:

• $180 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters;

• $135 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP);

• $50 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), as well as emergency changes to the RAFT program to increase the maximum amount of rental assistance that a household can receive from $4,000 to $10,000 and allow eligible households facing a housing crisis to access both RAFT and HomeBASE;

• $80 million for public housing subsidies;

• $56 million for homeless individual shelters;

• $13 million for homeless student transportation;

• $12.5 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), which provides rental assistance to people with disabilities;

• $11 million for Department of Mental Health Rental Subsidy Program; and

• $8 million for unaccompanied homeless youth.

Throughout the pandemic, Senator DiDomenico has worked on legislation to provide additional protections for renters and struggling homeowners to help stave off an eviction crisis. This budget includes many of reforms that Senator DiDomenico advocated for, including a new requirement ensuring tenants facing eviction better understand their rights. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the many housing challenges our Commonwealth and our district have long experienced, but now we face an eviction crisis we have never before seen,” said DiDomenico. “I’m pleased this budget includes investments in key housing security programs, but I am especially encouraged by the language regarding “Notice to Quit” incorporated into the budget, which would require landlords to provide a form with information related to the eviction process and resources for tenants. I have been advocating for this Notice to Quit policy since the start of the pandemic to ensure that renters know their rights if and when facing eviction, and I am very pleased it has been included in our budget.”

 Food insecurity has become one of the most prevalent consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting children, adults and seniors alike. To that end, the conference report prioritizes access to food resources across the Commonwealth. Food insecurity investments include:

• $30 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program;

• $13 million in Healthy Incentives Programs to ensure vulnerable households have continued access to food options during the pandemic; and

• $1.2 million for Project Bread to support the Child Nutrition Outreach Program and the Food Source Hotline.

The budget also includes Senator DiDomenico’s amendment requiring the Baker Administration to move forward with the creation of a SNAP Common Application program to connect eligible MassHealth/Medicare recipients with federal nutritional benefits. This amendment was modeled off of legislation the Senator sponsors to close the “SNAP Gap” in Massachusetts.

 The budget builds on the Legislature’s commitment to ensuring all children have access to high-quality early education and care (EEC) during this pandemic. As a longtime champion of early education in the Commonwealth, Senator DiDomenico spoke during the Senate chamber’s debate about the major investments the budget makes in the childcare industry, and the long-term impact these investments will have for both providers and families. The budget includes $25 million for a new Early Education and Care Workforce and COVID-19 Supports Reserve to provide classroom stabilization grants, incentive pay for providers, and support for increased operational costs due to COVID-19. In addition, the budget invests in those who work with children by increasing rates for early education providers by $20 million and provides $40 million for a new reserve to cover parent fees for families receiving subsidized childcare for the remainder of FY21. The budget also includes the following EEC investments and initiatives:

• $15 million for Head Start grants;

• $10 million for EEC Workforce Higher Education Opportunities;

• $2.5 million in early childhood mental health grants;

• $11 million for child care resource and referral agencies; and

• Establishes the Early Education and care Economic review commission to review childcare funding and make recommendations on policy changes to expand access.

Highlighting the urgent need to strengthen public health infrastructure at the local, state and regional level to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget includes targeted investments aimed at redoubling our efforts and pushing forward with a proactive public health response to defeat this virus and its many consequences. The budget includes:

• $10 million for grants to support local boards of health to combat COVID-19;

• $1 million for a COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan program, focused on equitable vaccine distribution;

• $50M for domestic violence prevention services; and

· $169M for Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to provide assistance to those who are battling substance addiction.

Additional programs and services prioritized by Senator DiDomenico include: 

• $ 46 million for Adult Basic Education Services;

• $20 million for summer jobs for at-risk youth;

• $29M for civil legal aid;

• $35.4M for early intervention services, and Senator DiDomenico’s amendment providing $4.1M to mitigate fluctuations in services and costs caused by COVID-19 pandemic;

• $6.5M for pediatric palliative care;

• $350/child for the TAFDC clothing allowance;

• $510K for Safe and Supportive Schools;

• $1.8M for Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and the Alliance of YMCAs;

• $250K for Operation A.B.L.E., employment training services for workers over the age of 45; and

• $250K for housing relief to the cities of Everett and Chelsea.

This legislation is now before Governor Baker for his signature.