Members to vote on rules for State House reopening
House lawmakers are expected to vote today on a set of rules that would mandate vaccines for all members and staff in an effort to reopen the State House, which has remained shuttered throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have accomplished so much in the past 18 months. I thank you all for your cooperation and understanding during this public health emergency. There is still much work to be done, though, and these recommendations establish a framework within which that work can be done,” Speaker Ronald Mariano, D-Quincy, wrote this week in an email to members, which was obtained by the Herald.
Earlier this week, a House working group returned a set of recommendations that call for reopening the State House — which closed in March 2020 — on a phased basis but outlined no time frame.
The bill submitted Wednesday leaves the reopening timeline up for discussion, but sets the stage for imposing the set of new pandemic rules amid a House state of emergency declaration.
Per the emergency rules, staffers and members would be required to submit proof of vaccination by Nov. 1 to work in-person at the State House.
Any staffers and members who do not adhere to vaccination protocols “shall continue to work remotely from outside the State House,” per the bill.
All public meetings and hearings would continue to be livestreamed.
Anyone inside the building would still be subject to wearing face masks, maintaining physical or social distancing or submitting to coronavirus testing, according to the bill.
The rules would apply to all 160 members and 450 staffers. Reasonable accommodations for valid religious or medical exemptions may be provided, the bill states.
Anyone hoping to gain insight into individual members’ or staffers’ vaccination statuses is out of luck. The rules bill states any information on vaccination status of members, officers or employees “shall be confidential.”
The rules bill slid past a 5 p.m. deadline for amendments on Wednesday with few additions — a rare feat.
One amendment by Rep. Denise Garlick, D-Needham, would force unvaccinated members to forfeit personal and committee staff under their supervision “until such time as the Member establishes that they are fully vaccinated or the Member has received a reasonable accommodation.”
House members are expected to debate and vote on the bill during a formal session today, according to Beacon Hill insiders.