SENATE, No. 1113

By Ms. Walsh, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1113) of Marian Walsh, Martha M. Walz, Patricia D. Jehlan and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to establish a self sufficiency standard in the Commonwealth. Labor and Workforce Development.
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

AN ACT to establish a self sufficiency standard in the Commonwealth

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Whereas, In today’s economy, employers face a shortage of skilled labor;

Whereas, Lower-wage workers do not earn enough to support their families;

Whereas, Lack of an adequately prepared workforce can cause employers to turn to workers outside of the Commonwealth;

Whereas, A skilled labor shortage can have an impact on the economic strength of the Commonwealth; and

Whereas, The poverty guidelines as measured by the federal government do not adequately reflect the costs of living in Massachusetts;

Therefore, It shall be the responsibility of the Commonwealth to define a self-sufficiency standard in order to provide a measure of the extent to which the incomes of households in Massachusetts are sufficient to support the costs of living, working, raising a family, and paying taxes in Massachusetts.