Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1779 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1379 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1779
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing a permanent commission to study the service standards for sexual assault
13	13	and domestic violence service providers.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth1/18/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/26/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/31/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth2/9/2023 1 of 4
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1379 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1779
19	19	By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
20	20	1779) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida and others for legislation to establish a permanent
21	21	commission (including members of the General Court) to study the service standards for sexual
22	22	assault and domestic violence service providers. The Judiciary.
23	23	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
24	24	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3841 OF 2021-2022.]
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
28	28	(2023-2024)
29	29	_______________
30	30	An Act establishing a permanent commission to study the service standards for sexual assault
31	31	and domestic violence service providers.
32	32	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
33	33	of the same, as follows:
34	34	1 Chapter 3 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
35	35	2 Section 76. (a) There shall be a permanent commission on sexual assault and domestic
36	36	3violence service providers, which shall consist of 19 members as follows: 1 of whom shall be the
37	37	4secretary of health and human services or their designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 of whom
38	38	5shall be the director of the department of public health division of sexual and domestic violence
39	39	6prevention and services; 2 of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, to be
40	40	7appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 of whom shall be a member of the house of
41	41	8representatives, to be appointed by the minority leader; 2 of whom shall be members of the
42	42	9senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate; 1 of whom shall be a member of the 2 of 4
43	43	10senate, to be appointed by the minority leader; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the
44	44	11governor’s council to address sexual assault and domestic violence; 1 of whom shall be the
45	45	12attorney general or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the
46	46	13Massachusetts office for victim assistance; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of Jane Doe
47	47	14Inc.: the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; 1 of whom
48	48	15shall be the executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be the
49	49	16executive director of the New Bedford Women’s Center, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be the executive
50	50	17director of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of
51	51	18Pathways for Change, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be an advocate specialized in working with
52	52	19survivors with disabilities, to be appointed by the governor; 1 of whom shall be an advocate
53	53	20specialized in working with children who experienced trauma, to be appointed by the governor; 3
54	54	21of whom shall be survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence, to be appointed by the
55	55	22governor. Members of the commission shall be citizens of the commonwealth who have
56	56	23demonstrated commitment to supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
57	57	24 Biennially, every legislative session, the general court shall review the membership of the
58	58	25commission to ensure its makeup is tailored to its purpose and improved when necessary.
59	59	26 (b) Appointed members shall serve terms of 2 years and until their successors are
60	60	27appointed, or the member is reappointed by their appointing or nominating authority. Vacancies
61	61	28in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the
62	62	29balance of the unexpired term. 3 of 4
63	63	30 (c) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but
64	64	31shall be reimbursed by the general court for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the
65	65	32performance of their duties.
66	66	33 (d) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting
67	67	34survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. It shall be a primary responsibility of the
68	68	35commission to study the practices and service standards currently in place for sexual assault and
69	69	36domestic violence service providers, including any organization, board or program that provides
70	70	37specialized programs, support, residential programs or intervention services for victims of sexual
71	71	38assault or domestic violence. The commission shall meet to put forth recommendations for
72	72	39uniform minimum service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence programs
73	73	40throughout the commonwealth. The commission shall perform an ongoing review of its
74	74	41recommendations and their results to ensure its recommendations are narrowly tailored and
75	75	42improved when necessary.
76	76	43 (e) The powers of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1)
77	77	44to use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and
78	78	45organizations as may from time to time be offered and required, including provision of meeting
79	79	46places and refreshments; (2) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings
80	80	47and other public events as the commission deems necessary; (3) to establish and maintain such
81	81	48offices as the commission deems necessary, subject to appropriation; (4) to acquire and direct a
82	82	49staff to perform its duties, subject to appropriation; (5) to enact by-laws for its own governance
83	83	50but not inconsistent with any general or special law; and (6) to recommend policies and make
84	84	51recommendations to agencies and officers of the commonwealth and local subdivisions of
85	85	52government to effectuate the purposes of this commission. 4 of 4
86	86	53 (f) (1) The commission may request information and assistance from state agencies as the
87	87	54commission requires.
88	88	55 (2) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants
89	89	56or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. These funds shall be
90	90	57deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by the treasurer on behalf of
91	91	58the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.
92	92	59 (g) (1) The commission shall report their recommendations relative to uniform minimum
93	93	60service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service programs to the executive
94	94	61office of health and human services no later than 180 days following the passage of this act.
95	95	62 (2) Biennially, not later than June 30, the commission shall reassess and report on the
96	96	63uniform service standards for sexual assault on domestic violence service programs and any
97	97	64policy recommendations to the governor, secretary of health and human services and the clerks
98	98	65of the house of representatives and the senate.