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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 908 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 197
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
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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 creating a special commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and
ensure the successful integration of refugees in Massachusetts.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/17/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 908 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 197
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 197) of
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Vanna Howard for legislation to establish a special
commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and ensure the successful
integration of refugees in Massachusetts. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 242 OF 2021-2022.]
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 creating a special commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and
ensure the successful integration of refugees in Massachusetts.
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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby
2established a special commission to study and make recommendations concerning the
3infrastructure of refugee resettlement agencies in the Commonwealth, their breadth of services,
4where services are lacking, and how the Commonwealth can best work in conjunction with the
5federal government to rebuild and support an infrastructure of refugee resettlement agencies that
6promotes sustainable long-term integration.
7 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of no less than 18 members: the Executive
8Director of the Office for Refugees and Immigrants or their designee, the Secretary of the
9Executive Office of Health and Human Services or their designee, the Commissioner of the 2 of 4
10Department of Transitional Assistance or their designee, the Undersecretary of the Department
11of Housing and Community Development or their designee, the Commissioner of the
12Department of Children and Families or their designee; 1 representative of the International
13Institute of New England; 1 representative of Ascentria Care Alliance; 1 representative of Jewish
14Family Service Metrowest; 2 additional representatives of refugee resettlement agencies within
15the Commonwealth; 1 individual of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
16Coalition, 3 individuals with lived experience as refugees; 1 representative of an employer or
17labor union that directly employs refugees; 1 representative of a job training program that works
18directly with refugees; and 2 individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
19public and affordable housing, federal immigration law and regulation, emergency management,
20the needs of forcibly displaced individuals.
21 SECTION 3. The commission shall, at a minimum, investigate, collect data and make
22recommendations on the following topics:
23 The state of the existing reception and placement (R&P) structure in Massachusetts,
24including but not limited to:
25 Current efforts to resettle refugees, including efforts to assist refugees in obtaining
26adequate housing, healthcare, education, transfer of professional licensure and workforce
27development training;
28 Any failures or gaps in resources that exist in the current system of services for refugees
29and recently resettled individuals, and where funds should be allocated to strengthen current
30systems or address gaps in services; 3 of 4
31 Any failures or gaps that exist due to the systematic dismantling of the federal refugee
32program over the previous 5 years; and how the Commonwealth can support the rebuilding of a
33strong refugee resettlement structure.
34 The state of the current integration system in place for refugees in the Commonwealth,
35including but not limited to:
36 A study of the current integration pipeline, and the systems in place to assist refugees
37from time of arrival through end of services;
38 Identification of gaps that exist in the current system, including a study of any potential
39“cliff effect” that exists in the structure as it stands currently;
40 Public policy and funding structures that the Commonwealth should support to ensure the
41successful long-term integration of refugees into our society and workforce.
42 SECTION 4. The commission may create committees and working groups to inform the
43commission’s investigation of the topics referenced in SECTION 3. The commission, its
44committees and its working groups may procure services, including consulting services, and
45otherwise involve experts, stakeholders, and members of the public. The commission shall be
46supported by staff from the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants.
47 SECTION 5. Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall
48commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The commission shall report
49to the general court and governor the results of its study, together with any draft legislation,
50regulations or administrative procedure necessary to better serve refugees resettling in the
51Commonwealth by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives 4 of 4
52and the director of the office of refugees and immigrants not more than 1 year after the effective
53date of this act.