MA LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP TWO YEAR SESSION

- Monday, August 06, 2012

• Article 376 : MFA ADDRESSES TOWN OF BROOKLINE, MA PROPOSAL TO BAN POLYSTYRENE AND CERTAIN DISPOSABLE BAGS
• Article 387 : BIG Y TURNS PINK
• Article 397 : 2013 HOLIDAY CALENDAR
• Article 410 : C&S Wholesale Grocers Responds After Hurricane Sandy
• Article 411 : Big Y Launches Customer and Employee Donation Program
• Article 412 : Big Y Re-Opening / Donation to Schools
• Article 414 : BIG Y'S SACK HUNGER / HELP OTHERS
• Article 416 : 2012 MFA ANNUAL MEETING AND HALL OF FAME PICTURES
• Article 417 : 2012 MASSACHUSETTS BEST BAGGER WINNER - DANNY JOHNSON of ROCHE BROS. SUPERMARKETS
• Article 418 : MFA's Hall of Fame & Community Service Awards
• Article 423 : STOP & SHOP GOES PINK IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS ORGANIZATIONS
• Article 429 : Big Y Donates $75,000 to Superstorm Sandy and American Red Cross Disaster Relief
• Article 431 : CREDIT CARD LITIGATION UPDATE:
• Article 435 : MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION NEWS SCAN UPDATE
• Article 436 : MFA Newscan January 21, 2013
• Article 438 : MFA Newscan January 14, 2013
• Article 441 : MFA Newscan January 28, 2013
• Article 442 : BIG Y's "SACK HUNGER" PROGRAM DONATES 162,830 LBS OF FOOD
• Article 444 : Ahold USA Names Mark McGowan To Exec. V.P. Of Merchandising
• Article 445 : Letter to MFA from the Department of Children and Families
• Article 468 : MESSAGE FROM: Joe Kelley, Stop & Shop Supermarkets and Jay Rainville, Demoulas Supermarkets.
• Article 478 : MFA NEWSCAN UPDATE MARCH 11, 2013
• Article 480 : MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION NEWS SCAN UPDATE 4/1/13
• Article 484 : MFA Legislation filed for 2013 - 2014
• Article 486 : Stop & Shop Triple Winner® Game continues to bring hope in the fight against pediatric brain tumors

At midnight on Tuesday, July 31 the Massachusetts Legislature wrapped up the formal portion of its two year 2011 - 2012 legislative session.  The next two year legislative session begins in January of 2013, and between now and then the Legislature will only deal with non-controversial bills.  We are still sorting through the flurry of activity that took place in the closing days of the session, however here is the status of some of the more relevant legislation we have been tracking that was dealt with in the last few days of the session:

·        Job growth legislation/Sales Tax holiday - (H4532) Signed this morning by the Governor, this proposal seeks to stimulate community and jobs growth, and contains a section that creates the state’s sale tax holiday.  As soon as the Department of Revenue issues a Technical Information Release (TIR) on the measure we will distribute this information.  The measure also contains language to study the taxation and definition of “independent contractors” and the processing and sale of frozen lobster parts.

·        Mandated paid and unpaid leave - (H3995, S918, H1409/S1863) Several of these proposals were gaining traction as the session progressed and reached the end, however none of them were signed into law including: mandated paid leave for victims of domestic violence, unpaid family leave and earned sick time;

·        Health care cost containment - (S2400) Legislation that was signed into law today by the Governor seeks to lower health care costs by tying its growth to the rate of growth in the economy and increasing the number of employees from 11 to 21 for companies subject to the fair share assessment (penalty).  The proposal also contains language that does not penalize employers who do not enroll certain employees in their company health plan because they are on another plan such as a spouse, a parent, Medicare or certain other plans, which goes into effect next July 1.  The law also calls for the development of (through the regulatory process) additional incentives for employees to participate in wellness programs;

·        Public access to restrooms - (H2366) Last week the Governor signed a new law that gives people with medical conditions access to employee-only bathrooms at Massachusetts businesses if no public restrooms are available.  Individuals with certain medical conditions that have a doctor’s note stating the condition will now be allowed to use restroom facilities in work establishments with three or more employees;