For Immediate Release
May 22, 2002
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Rep. Barrios’ Red Cross Disaster Leave Act Signed Into Law

BOSTON, MA - Acting Governor Jane Swift signed into law the Red Cross Disaster Leave Volunteer Act, legislation written by State Rep. Jarrett Barrios (D-Cambridge) and pushed through the Senate by Senator Richard Moore, on Wednesday, May 22, which became effective retroactively on September 11, 2001. The bill was introduced into the Legislature on January 3, 2001.

“There is nothing more fulfilling as a state legislator than to know you are actually helping people by having legislation you wrote and sponsored become law,” said Barrios. “One of my priorities during my tenure in the State House has consistently been to support the working people of the Commonwealth. As a result of this law, hard working and devoted state employees who volunteer for the Red Cross during disasters will no longer be penalized through loss of vacation and sick days. I am grateful for Senator Moore’s success in moving the bill through the Senate and making this possible.”

Senator Moore agreed, “State employees have important skills that they can apply to the victims of disasters, and they should not be penalized for their willingness to go to the aid of victims and their families,” said Senator Moore. “While working with Federal Emergency Management Agency, I worked closely with the Red Cross on a number of national disasters. I know the good work that trained volunteers are capable of and know that many of our dedicated state employees could bring their skills to the aid of disaster victims if given the opportunity.”

During his two terms in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Barrios, a candidate for State Senate in the district that includes Everett, has found solutions to problems that really matter in the lives of working families. In addition to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Bill, Rep. Barrios has led successful initiatives to expand health care access, including helping to save Everett’s Whidden Hospital. Rep. Barrios has won property tax relief for seniors, led the effort to help people own their own homes, worked to save the state’s senior pharmacy program, and fought to save funding for poorer school districts.

As a result of this new law, American Red Cross certified state workers, who are called by the Red Cross to help respond to disasters, will no longer be penalized for their volunteerism as they previously had to use their own vacation or sick time. The “Disaster Leave Volunteer Act” will now strengthen the state’s disaster relief network by providing employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a maximum of 15 calendar days of paid leave each year to serve on American Red Cross disaster relief operations. Currently, 45 states have disaster leave provisions for state employees.

Kevin O’Connell, Senior Director of Emergency Services at the American Red Cross, underscored the importance of this new law, “This is a great day,” said Mr. O’Connell. “The American Red Cross will now be better able to fulfill its goal of assisting all victims of any disaster. I want to thank Representative Barrios and Senator Moore for their leadership. This is a monumental success and achievement.”

For more information on how you can help the Red Cross, please contact Ms. Renita Hosler, Director of Public Relations of the American Red Cross, at 617-375-0700.

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