Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4796
        The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
                    ________________________________________
                       HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 18, 2022.
    The committee on Labor and Workforce Development to whom were
referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1197) of Paul R.
Feeney, David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Walter F. Timilty and Maria
Duaime Robinson for legislation relative to a just transition to clean
energy, the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1198) of Paul R.
Feeney, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, Walter F.
Timilty and others for legislation relative to clean energy workforce
standards and accountability, the petition (accompanied by bill, House,
No. 1954) of Marjorie C. Decker and others for legislation to establish a
just transition to clean energy office within the Department of Career
Services of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development,
and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1955) of Marjorie C.
Decker, Paul W. Mark and others relative to clean energy workforce
standards and accountability, reports recommending that the
accompanying bill (House, No. 4796) ought to pass.
                            For the committee,
                                                               JOSH S. CUTLER.
                                                      FILED ON: 5/13/2022
      HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4796
                                The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
                                                      _______________
                                    In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
                                                        (2021-2022)
                                                      _______________
     An Act relative to a just transition to clean energy.
              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. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general laws to the contrary, there shall
 be a special commission to ensure that workers employed in the energy sector who are displaced
 due to efforts by the commonwealth or the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or
 transition from fossil fuels to clean energy have immediate access to employment and training
 opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields. The Just Transition Commission shall
 also study how the Commonwealth and clean energy businesses can ensure they act as
 responsible employers to further the Commonwealth’s workforce and economic development
 goals. The Just Transition Commission shall also study how to increase access to employment
 and training opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields for residents of
 environmental justice communities.
         (b) For purposes of this commission, the following words and phrases shall have the
 following definitions, unless context clearly requires otherwise:
                                                          1 of 5
        “environmental justice population”, shall have the same meaning as defined in section 62
 of chapter 30.
        (c) The commission shall consist of 17 members: (1) the secretary of labor and workforce
 development, or designee; (2) the commissioner of the department of energy resources, or
 designee; (3) the director of the office of clean energy equity in the executive office of energy
 and environmental affairs; (4) a representative of employers in the gas utility sector appointed by
 the governor; (5) a representative of employers in the electric power generation sector appointed
 by the Speaker of the House; (6) a representative of employers in the renewable electricity sector
 appointed by the Senate President; (7) a representative of employers in the energy efficiency
 sector appointed by the governor; (8) a representative of employers in the clean transportation
 sector appointed by the Speaker of the House; (9) a representative of employers in the clean
 heating sector appointed by the Senate President; (10) a representative of employees in the gas
 utility sector appointed by the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; (11) a representative of
 employees in the electric power generation sector appointed by the Massachusetts Building
 Trades Council; (12) two representatives of employees in the clean energy sector appointed by
 the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; (13) a representative of employees in the transportation
 sector appointed by Massachusetts department of transportation; and (14) three representatives of
 environmental justice communities appointed by the director of the office of clean energy equity.
        (d) If a vacancy occurs on the commission, the appointing authority may fill such
 vacancy. All members of the commission shall serve without compensation.
        (e) The commission shall be tasked with conducting a study needed to develop a just
 transition plan for the energy sector. The study shall include details on:
                                                    2 of 5
        (i) Workers currently employed in the fossil fuel sectors by industry, trade, job
 classification, and region. This information shall include relevant details including, but not
 limited to, current wage and benefit packages and current licensing, certification, and training
 requirements.
        (ii) The number of jobs clean energy jobs created in the Commonwealth, by industry,
 trade, job classification, and region.
        (iii) Projected inventory of jobs needed and skills and training required to meet future
 demand for jobs in the clean energy sector.
        (iv) Strategies for targeting workforce development, re-employment opportunities, and
 work supports for dislocated workers displaced from energy sector jobs as a result of the
 transition to clean energy.
        (v) Recommended actions to increase job opportunities in clean energy industries and
 provide support services for residents of environmental justice communities.
        (f) The commission shall report to the department of energy resources, the executive
 office of labor and workforce development, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the
 senate by no later than January 1, 2024 on the findings of the study required under subsection
 (e).
        SECTION 2. Chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by
 inserting after Section 12 the following new section:-
        Section 13: Clean Energy Workforce Development Plan
                                                    3 of 5
        The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“Center”) shall develop and
 implement successive 5-year workforce development plans for the Commonwealth, beginning in
 FY2024, that includes outreach and recruitment into the Clean Energy Industry for existing
 workers in fossil fuel intensive industries, as well as environmental justice populations and
 individuals living in municipalities at high risk for climate change within the Commonwealth.
        The Center’s workforce development plans shall include:
        (1) Development of technical assistance, grants, loans, and demonstration projects,
 facilitating the creation of construction, operations, and maintenance jobs in the Clean Energy
 Industry.
        (2) Measures to expand training capacity for the Clean Energy industry, building upon
 the Commonwealth’s extensive existing public and private workforce development facilities,
 including all state and federally certified apprenticeship programs, licensure, and degree
 programs.
        (3) Specific goals for the utilization of the residual workforce in fossil fuel intensive
 industries, as well as environmental justice populations and individuals living in municipalities at
 high risk for climate change within the Commonwealth.
        (4) Recommendations, programs and technical assistance for the Clean Energy Industry
 to ensure that the industry develops and maintains excellent working terms and conditions for all
 workers employed therein.
                                                    4 of 5
        (5) Requirements for minimum working conditions on Clean Energy projects owned,
 leased, or financed by the Center through the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, or otherwise by the
 Commonwealth, its departments, offices, agencies, and quasi-independent agencies.
        The Center will engage all stakeholders in the planning process, including but not limited
 to the union representatives of workers in fossil fuel industries and organizations serving
 environmental justice populations and individuals living in municipalities at high risk for climate
 change within the Commonwealth. The Center will coordinate their workforce development
 planning and research with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
        SECTION 3. (a) Subsection (b) of section 2 of chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General
 Laws shall be amended by inserting, after the word “Alliance;” in line 50, the following words:
        “1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, or designee; 1 of
 whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, or designee;”
        (b) Subsection (b) of section 2 of chapter 23J of the Massachusetts General Laws shall be
 amended by striking out, in line 42, the word “12” and inserting in place thereof the word “14.”
                                                    5 of 5