Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

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Creative Economy Bill and more! Calls Needed Now!

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Please ask your State Senator and State Representative to sign on to the following legislation by this Friday, February 1st!

How to find who represents you: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

Ask them to sign on to the following pieces of legislation:

An Act Relative to the Creative Economy Bill SD 1128 and HD 2850

Independent Contractor 2004 law change has been an issue that has been negatively impacting those in the Creative Economy. These two identical bills fix this issue for our sector with an intellectual property carve out. We except more bills to be filled addressing the Independent Contractor Issue. The 2004 Independent Contractor law change is negatively impacting the artist community and the arts community because it made it next to impossible for people to be classified as independent contractors in this State. Once you are classified as an employee you do not own or control your intellectual property. It is the property of the employer. The Senate Bill was filed by Senator Michael Moore and the House Bill was filed by Representative John Keenan.

These are important pieces of legislation and we will list other IC Bills as we learn of them.

An Act Establishing a Disaster and Emergency Aid Fund for Massachusetts Artists-Senate Docket 380

The bill was originally filed in 2008 and was been refiled in 2009, 2011 and 2013. It would allow for the State Treasurer’s Office to establish a specific state fund for Disaster/Emergency Aid for Massachusetts Artists working in all disciplines. This fund will be used to help artists who have had a health care emergency (i.e. could not pay their medical bills or medical insurance) as well as to help those artists who suffered other types of emergencies (fires, floods, theft). The funds would be generated from funds raised from the private sector. –Filed by Senator Hart

More info on these bills see http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/legislature.html

Thank you and please pass this on to as many Massachusetts residents who support artists!

Sincerely,

Kathleen Bitetti
Artist
Co-Founder of ArtistsUndertheDome.org & the Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition