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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4018 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1447
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Michael S. Day
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael S. Day31st Middlesex1/20/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4018 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1447
By Representative Day of Stoneham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1447) of
Michael S. Day relative to the roles and responsibilities of the Victim and Witness Assistance
Board. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 3 of chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
2hereby amended by striking the last paragraph beginning with the words “there shall be
3conspicuously posted” and inserting the following:-
4 There shall be conspicuously posted in all courthouses and police stations a summary of
5the rights afforded under this section. To satisfy this requirement, the victim and witness
6assistance board, pursuant to section 4, shall provide information on the rights afforded to
7victims and witnesses to court officials and police chiefs. Information may be provided in
8printed or digital formats. The board shall provide information in the top five languages spoken
9at home, other than English, as provided by the most recent federal census data.
10 SECTION 2. Section 4 of said chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
11hereby amended by striking the word “him” in the second paragraph and inserting the following
12word:- them 2 of 2
13 SECTION 3. Said Section 4 of chapter 258B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
14by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting the following paragraphs:-
15 The board shall establish, adopt, and maintain bylaws relative to the operation of internal
16governance.
17 In addition to the foregoing, the board shall:
18 (a)fund and support services that are available to victims across the commonwealth
19 (b)provide professional development and community education opportunities for
20Massachusetts victim services providers, victims, and allied professionals, including sharing
21information relative to the victim and witness rights and services established under this chapter
22 (c)advocate for policy and legislative initiatives related to access and support for
23victims’ rights and services including but not limited to funding
24 (d)assume the management and administration of the Garden of Peace, a public
25memorial garden located on the plaza of 100 Cambridge street in the city of Boston to honor
26victims of homicide, to receive gifts or grants of money or property to assist the board in the
27maintenance and operation of the memorial and to establish an advisory committee which shall
28consist of interested residents appointed by the victim witness assistance board to provide advice
29to the board.
30 (e)administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program as established in Chapter 151 of
31the Acts of 1996
32 SECTION 4. Section 6 of said chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
33hereby amended by striking the words “the board”.