Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 15, 2025 LEGISLATION | FROM PAGE 5 It is an in-depth analysis that details the state of poverty in our Commonwealth, outlines the complex and overlapping root causes of poverty and off ers expansive and forward-looking recommendations that will drive major reductions in the poverty rate over the next decade. The Commission’s policy prescriptions include potential legislative and regulatory proposals that address four key areas: Access to Essential Support, Stability for Individuals and Families, Opportunity for Economic Mobility, and Systems Coordination and Implementation. This report is intended to serve as a roadmap to greatly reduce poverty in Massachusetts by 2035. These recommendations are grounded in evidence, shaped by the experience and stories of community members that are most impacted, and can be collectively owned by leaders, advocates, citizens and professionals who understand the urgency and possibility of this work. ASAP Act overview The ASAP Act is a combination of some of the most eff ective anti-poverty policies currently proposed in the Legislature and new proposals informed by discussions with Commission members and tesIf We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available timony at Commission hearings. The bill focuses on three main policy levers that can lift Massachusetts residents out of poverty: direct cash benefi ts, worker rights and wages, and wealth-building opportunities. Putting cash in people’s pockets • Lifting our families out of deep poverty: increasing the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) cash benefits program for pregnant individuals, families and caregivers, and increasing the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) cash benefi ts program until every eligible person is above 50% of the federal poverty line) • Protecting maternal health: guaranteeing that all pregnant people can access TAFDC cash benefi ts from the moment they know about their pregnancy. • Codifying TAFDC clothing and rental allowances: ensuring that eligible parents and pregnant people can access $50 per month in rental assistance and the annual $500 clothing allowance for their children. • Codifying EAEDC rental allowance: guaranteeing that eligible people can access $50 per month rental assistance every year. • Updating child support policies: prohibiting the government from taking any amount of child support payments from low-income parents and giving parents the ability to decide not to pursue child support if it could be unsafe or destabilizing for them or their children. • Enhancing tax credits: increasing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefi ts for low-income workers and increasing the Commonwealth’s Child and Family Tax Credit (CFTC) for eligible parents and caretakers. This provision will also expand EITC eligibility to low-income workers of all ages, legal residents, workers with large families, and all children up to age 18. • Establishing a guaranteed income pilot: creating a cash stipend of $1,000 per month for fi ve years to any individual transitioning out of foster care between the ages of 18-23. • Replacing stolen food assistance benefits: directing the Commonwealth to replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cash benefi ts stolen by criminal rings through skimming or phishing. • Improving language access: requiring all public-facing Commonwealth government agencies, and the outside service providers they rely on, to offer interpretation services and translate vital documents for non-English speakers. This will ensure that all residents can better access the public services they need. • Providing menstrual products: ensuring and expanding access to free menstrual products, without stigma, to all menstruating individuals in all public schools, homeless shelters, prisons and county jails. Protecting and empowering workers • Protecting workers’ wages: enhancing the Attorney General’s ability to ensure companies pay their employees the wages they deserve and hold employers accountable when they steal workers’ wages, ensuring workers have remedies and relief when experiencing employer retaliation, and empowering workers to fi ght wage theft. • Streamlining automatic record sealing: creating an automated process so that individuals with eligible past off enses who have served their time can fi nd a job and access housing without stigma. • Eliminating subminimum wage for farmworkers: raising wages from $8 per hour to at least the minimum wage ($15 per hour). • Eliminating subminimum wage for people with disabilities: prohibiting employers’ ability to pay a subminimum wage to individuals with disabilities and ensure these workers earn at least the Massachusetts minimum wage. Building wealth • Establishing a baby bonds program: creating a trust fund for eligible children that can be used after turning 18 to pursue wealth-building ventures like seeking more eduLEGISLATION | SEE PAGE 11
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