Three pieces of legislation that will help create a fairer and more responsible economy in the Commonwealth
SEIU Local 615′s 17,000 members are dedicated to building a more secure future and raising standards in schools, universities, office buildings, and publicly owned properties. We believe that companies and institutions that receive public funding should meet high standards of financial accountability and transparency, especially at this time of great budgetary strain. That’s why janitors, security officers, and food service workers are supporting legislation that will ensure taxpayer dollars are being used to benefit the Commonwealth.
Specifically, the three bills before the Massachusetts legislature would 1) preclude contractors from pocketing off-invoice discounts and rebates that belong to our public universities, 2) establish tax transparency and strengthen reporting requirements in higher education, and 3) improve public safety by enhancing the quality of security services on property of the Commonwealth.
SEIU Local 615 asks for your support on these three bills, which aim to create a fair economy for all in our Commonwealth, and to hold companies accountable to Massachusetts taxpayers.
An Act to Preclude Contractors from Retaining Rebates that would Undermine the Integrity of the Public Procurement Process requires contractors to disclose and pass through all rebates and discounts obtained on public colleges’ and universities’ behalf. It is a widespread, food services industry practice to pocket discounts as a way to earn profit and the federal government protects K-12 schools from this practice through USDA regulations for the National School Lunch Program. Amending the state code dealing with public higher education purchasing would extend the USDA regulations to MA state colleges and universities ensuring that the schools and taxpayers are recovering all funds that are intended to benefit the quality and nutritional value of meals served to students.
Lead Sponsors: Senator Karen Spilka, S577
Representative Tom Sannicandro, H355
An Act to Establish Tax Transparency and Strengthen the Reporting Requirements of Public Charities and to Establish Reporting Requirements for the Trustees and Directors of Public Charities increases financial transparency and reveal conflicts of interest for private, nonprofit higher education institutions which receive public funds through tax exemptions, so that the public and the legislature can get a better sense of how tax dollars are spent. The public invests deeply in higher education and this bill is an important first step in ensuring that private colleges are accountable for their stewardship of that public investment and honor their public mission.
Lead Sponsors: Senator Patricia Jehlen, S790
Representative Michael J. Moran H3003
An Act to Enhance the Quality of Security Services on State Property ensures that contractors hired by public agencies to provide security services offer high-quality service, decent wages, health benefits and a good value for taxpayers by expanding the prevailing wage law. When security contractors that do business with the state are permitted to offer jobs with substandard pay and benefits, workers pay the price. Through the organizing of security officers a higher standard for wages and benefits has been set in the private sector industry and this bill would ensure that state owned and rented buildings will not hire contractors that fall short of this standard.
Lead Sponsors: Senator Ken Donnally, S1572
Representative Martin Walsh, H548