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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1254 FILED ON: 1/19/2023 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 100 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Robyn K. Kennedy |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act establishing a special commission to study women and homelessness. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1254 FILED ON: 1/19/2023 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 100 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 100) of Robyn K. Kennedy for |
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| 19 | 19 | | legislation to establish a special commission to study women and homelessness. Children, |
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| 20 | 20 | | Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
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| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 82 OF 2021-2022.] |
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| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2023-2024) |
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| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
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| 28 | 28 | | An Act establishing a special commission to study women and homelessness. |
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| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 1 SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission, as established by section 2A of |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2chapter 4 of the General Laws, to conduct an investigation and study regarding homelessness |
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| 33 | 33 | | 3among women in the commonwealth. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 4 The special commission shall consist of: two members of the house of representatives, |
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| 35 | 35 | | 5one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as |
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| 36 | 36 | | 6co-chair, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of |
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| 37 | 37 | | 7representatives; two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of |
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| 38 | 38 | | 8the senate who shall serve as co-chair, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority |
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| 39 | 39 | | 9leader of the senate; the governor or designee; the secretary of health and human services or |
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| 40 | 40 | | 10designee; the commissioner of public health or designee; and the secretary of housing and 2 of 2 |
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| 41 | 41 | | 11economic development or designee. The first meeting of the commission shall take place not |
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| 42 | 42 | | 12later than February 28, 2022. |
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| 43 | 43 | | 13 The co-chairs of the special commission shall appoint seven representatives, including |
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| 44 | 44 | | 14but not limited to: a representative of Health Care Without Walls; a representative of homeless |
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| 45 | 45 | | 15shelters and agencies; a representative of housing advocacy organizations and agencies; a |
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| 46 | 46 | | 16representative of a service provider with expertise in health care disparities, women’s health, and |
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| 47 | 47 | | 17trauma-informed care; a representative of a service provider with expertise in serving survivors |
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| 48 | 48 | | 18of sexual exploitation; an academic researcher with expertise in women’s homelessness; and an |
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| 49 | 49 | | 19individual who has experienced homelessness. |
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| 50 | 50 | | 20 The special commission shall conduct a community needs assessment regarding |
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| 51 | 51 | | 21homelessness among persons who identify as women; and make recommendations regarding |
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| 52 | 52 | | 22homelessness prevention, improving shelters for women and families, increasing permanent |
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| 53 | 53 | | 23housing opportunities, collection and reporting of data regarding women experiencing |
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| 54 | 54 | | 24homelessness and ensuring that homeless women have access to a full range of health care and |
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| 55 | 55 | | 25social services. |
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| 56 | 56 | | 26 The special commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of |
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| 57 | 57 | | 27the senate and the house of representatives, the chair of the house committee on ways and means, |
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| 58 | 58 | | 28the chair of the senate committee on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on |
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| 59 | 59 | | 29housing and the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance abuse not later than |
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| 60 | 60 | | 30July 31, 2023. |
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