Massachusetts (2020) HB 5250 (An Act Enabling Partnerships For Growth), Sec 92

Summary

Establishes a special commission to study the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the workforce, businesses, and the economy.

Charges the commission with ensuring sustainable jobs, fair benefits, and workplace safety standards.

Instructs the commission to study trends in industry transformation and impacts on workers, including access to healthcare and benefits.

Collaborates with the executive office of labor and workforce development to track industry trends and research best practices for the future of work.

Requires the commission to gather data from various sectors, work with training organizations, and hold public hearings across different regions.

Directs the commission to file a report by September 1, 2021, with analysis, recommendations, and potential legislation for securing worker benefits and updating workforce training.

Ensures recommendations include support for lifelong learning, skill development, and integration of new technologies in workforce training.

Establishes a special commission to study automation and AI's impact on workforce, businesses, and economy.

SECTION 92. (a) There shall be a special commission 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. The main objective of the commission shall be to ensure sustainable jobs, fair benefits and workplace safety standards for workers in all industries, including, but not limited to, access to adequate and affordable health insurance, financial security in retirement, unemployment insurance and disability insurance. The commission shall consist of: 2 persons appointed by the president of the senate, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 persons appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the secretary of labor and workforce development or a designee; 2 persons appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have expertise in the future of work issues and 1 of whom shall have experience in workforce training and education; 2 persons appointed by the attorney general, 1 of whom shall have expertise in fair labor and workers' rights and 1 of whom shall have expertise in future of work issues; and 6 persons appointed by the co-chairs, 3 of whom shall be members of the labor community with experience in future of work issues and 3 of whom shall be members of the business community with experience in future of work issues.

Directs the commission to study the future of work, including technology's impact on industries and employment.

(b) The commission shall study and evaluate the future of work including, but not limited to: (i) trends and drivers of the transformation of industries and employment and how they will impact workers; (ii) policies and practices that may assist workers, businesses and communities to thrive and maintain a robust economy while responding to the rapid transformation of technology, workplace practices, environmental and security concerns and global interdependence; (iii) the impact of industry transformation on worker access to affordable and adequate healthcare, financial security in retirement and adequate unemployment insurance, disability insurance and other benefits; (iv) best practices on maintaining cohesive and beneficial partnerships between workers and employers during industry growth and transformation; and (v) any other factors the commission deems relevant.

Requires the commission to collaborate on developing an inventory and researching trends affecting industry transformations.

(c) The commission, in collaboration with the executive office of labor and workforce development, shall: (i) develop and maintain an inventory of the current and future trends and factors that will likely drive the transformation of industries and work over the next 25 years; (ii) research best practices from state, national and international sources and develop case studies and examples for the future of work; (iii) gather data and input from employers and workers from the major industrial sectors in every region of the commonwealth; and (iv) work with organizations that engage in workforce training to identify best practices and any obstacles that may exist to adequate workforce training during future industry transformation.

Requires the task force to hold four meetings, including two public hearings, by December 31, 2021.

(d) The task force shall meet not less than 4 times in different geographic regions and shall accept input from the public during not less than 2 public hearings and solicit expert testimony from individuals identified by the commission. The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than December 31, 2021.

Requires the commission to file a report with legislative and policy recommendations for future workforce development.

(e) Not later than September 1, 2021, the commission shall file a report of its analysis, recommendations and any proposed legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the joint committee on labor and workforce development.

The report shall include, but not be limited to, legislative and policy recommendations that: (i) ensure workers in the future secure access to affordable and adequate healthcare, financial security in retirement and adequate unemployment insurance, disability insurance and other benefits; (ii) provide for portable, transferable, cost-efficient and time-efficient credentialing; (iii) support life-long learning and talent development for workers of all ages; (iv) help workers maintain relevant skills or learn new skills for the careers and workplaces of the future; (v) prepare young people to succeed in the careers and workplaces of the future; (vi) ensure employers and workforce training entities are up to date on training needs for workers in current and future industries and careers; and (vii) enable workers, businesses and workforce training entities to simultaneously learn and incorporate new technologies into workforce training.