Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H197 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. 908 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 197
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
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 creating a special commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and
13	13	ensure the successful integration of refugees in Massachusetts.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/17/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 4
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 908 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 197
19	19	By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 197) of
20	20	David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Vanna Howard for legislation to establish a special
21	21	commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and ensure the successful
22	22	integration of refugees in Massachusetts. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
23	23	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
24	24	SEE HOUSE, NO. 242 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 creating a special commission to study the current refugee resettlement infrastructure and
31	31	ensure the successful integration of refugees in Massachusetts.
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 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby
35	35	2established a special commission to study and make recommendations concerning the
36	36	3infrastructure of refugee resettlement agencies in the Commonwealth, their breadth of services,
37	37	4where services are lacking, and how the Commonwealth can best work in conjunction with the
38	38	5federal government to rebuild and support an infrastructure of refugee resettlement agencies that
39	39	6promotes sustainable long-term integration.
40	40	7 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of no less than 18 members: the Executive
41	41	8Director of the Office for Refugees and Immigrants or their designee, the Secretary of the
42	42	9Executive Office of Health and Human Services or their designee, the Commissioner of the 2 of 4
43	43	10Department of Transitional Assistance or their designee, the Undersecretary of the Department
44	44	11of Housing and Community Development or their designee, the Commissioner of the
45	45	12Department of Children and Families or their designee; 1 representative of the International
46	46	13Institute of New England; 1 representative of Ascentria Care Alliance; 1 representative of Jewish
47	47	14Family Service Metrowest; 2 additional representatives of refugee resettlement agencies within
48	48	15the Commonwealth; 1 individual of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
49	49	16Coalition, 3 individuals with lived experience as refugees; 1 representative of an employer or
50	50	17labor union that directly employs refugees; 1 representative of a job training program that works
51	51	18directly with refugees; and 2 individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
52	52	19public and affordable housing, federal immigration law and regulation, emergency management,
53	53	20the needs of forcibly displaced individuals.
54	54	21 SECTION 3. The commission shall, at a minimum, investigate, collect data and make
55	55	22recommendations on the following topics:
56	56	23 The state of the existing reception and placement (R&P) structure in Massachusetts,
57	57	24including but not limited to:
58	58	25 Current efforts to resettle refugees, including efforts to assist refugees in obtaining
59	59	26adequate housing, healthcare, education, transfer of professional licensure and workforce
60	60	27development training;
61	61	28 Any failures or gaps in resources that exist in the current system of services for refugees
62	62	29and recently resettled individuals, and where funds should be allocated to strengthen current
63	63	30systems or address gaps in services; 3 of 4
64	64	31 Any failures or gaps that exist due to the systematic dismantling of the federal refugee
65	65	32program over the previous 5 years; and how the Commonwealth can support the rebuilding of a
66	66	33strong refugee resettlement structure.
67	67	34 The state of the current integration system in place for refugees in the Commonwealth,
68	68	35including but not limited to:
69	69	36 A study of the current integration pipeline, and the systems in place to assist refugees
70	70	37from time of arrival through end of services;
71	71	38 Identification of gaps that exist in the current system, including a study of any potential
72	72	39“cliff effect” that exists in the structure as it stands currently;
73	73	40 Public policy and funding structures that the Commonwealth should support to ensure the
74	74	41successful long-term integration of refugees into our society and workforce.
75	75	42 SECTION 4. The commission may create committees and working groups to inform the
76	76	43commission’s investigation of the topics referenced in SECTION 3. The commission, its
77	77	44committees and its working groups may procure services, including consulting services, and
78	78	45otherwise involve experts, stakeholders, and members of the public. The commission shall be
79	79	46supported by staff from the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants.
80	80	47 SECTION 5. Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall
81	81	48commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this act. The commission shall report
82	82	49to the general court and governor the results of its study, together with any draft legislation,
83	83	50regulations or administrative procedure necessary to better serve refugees resettling in the
84	84	51Commonwealth by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives 4 of 4
85	85	52and the director of the office of refugees and immigrants not more than 1 year after the effective
86	86	53date of this act.