Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1994 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2376 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1994
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	James B. Eldridge
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 promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and WorcesterVanna Howard17th Middlesex 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2376 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1994
18	18	By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1994) of James B. Eldridge and
19	19	Vanna Howard for legislation to promote the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in
20	20	the commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
30	30	2section:-
31	31	3 Section 71. (a) There shall be a permanent commission on the status of people who
32	32	4practice Islam consisting of 11 persons as follows: 2 persons appointed by the governor; 1 person
33	33	5appointed by the attorney general; 1 person appointed by the speaker of the house of
34	34	6representatives; 1 person appointed by the president of the senate; 2 persons appointed by the
35	35	7state secretary; 2 persons appointed by the senate chair of the Massachusetts general court’s joint
36	36	8committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion; and 2 persons appointed by the house
37	37	9chair of the Massachusetts general court’s joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and
38	38	10inclusion. Members of the commission shall reside in the commonwealth who have
39	39	11demonstrated a commitment to the Muslim American community. Members shall be subject to
40	40	12the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees. 2 of 5
41	41	13 (b) Members shall serve terms of 3 years and until their successors are appointed.
42	42	14Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing
43	43	15authority for the balance of the unexpired term. Nominations for members shall be solicited by
44	44	16the appointing authorities between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open
45	45	17application process using a uniform application that is widely distributed throughout the state.
46	46	18 (c) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer
47	47	19and any other officers it considers necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no
48	48	20compensation for their services, provided however, that they shall be reimbursed for any usual
49	49	21and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
50	50	22 (d) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting
51	51	23American Muslim communities in the commonwealth. In furtherance of that responsibility, the
52	52	24commission shall: (1) promote research and serve as a clearinghouse and source of information
53	53	25on issues pertaining to American Muslims in the commonwealth; (2) inform the public and
54	54	26leaders of business, education, human services, health care, state and local governments and the
55	55	27communications media of the unique cultural, social, ethnic, economic and educational issues
56	56	28affecting American Muslims in the commonwealth; (3) foster unity among the American Muslim
57	57	29community and organizations in the commonwealth by promoting cooperation and sharing of
58	58	30information and encouraging collaboration and joint activities; (4) serve as a liaison between
59	59	31government and private interest groups with regard to matters of unique interest and concern to
60	60	32American Muslims in the commonwealth; (5) identify and recommend qualified American
61	61	33Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions,
62	62	34as the commission considers necessary and appropriate; (6) assess programs and practices in all
63	63	35state agencies as they affect American Muslims, as the commission considers necessary and 3 of 5
64	64	36appropriate; (7) advise executive and legislative bodies on the potential effect on American
65	65	37Muslims of proposed legislation, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate; and (8)
66	66	38generally undertake activities designed to enable the commonwealth to realize the full benefit of
67	67	39the skills, talents and cultural heritage of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
68	68	40 (e) The commission shall annually, on or before June 2, report the results of its findings
69	69	41and activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of
70	70	42the senate and house of representatives.
71	71	43 (f) The powers of the commission shall include, but not be limited, to: (1) using the
72	72	44voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations that
73	73	45may from time to time be offered and needed, including the provision of meeting places and
74	74	46refreshments; (2) holding regular, public meetings and holding fact-finding hearings and other
75	75	47public forums as it considers necessary; (3) directing staff to perform its duties; (4) establishing
76	76	48and maintaining offices that it considers necessary, subject to appropriation; (5) enacting by-laws
77	77	49for its own governance that are not inconsistent with any general or special law; and (6)
78	78	50recommending policies and making recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and
79	79	51local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (d).
80	80	52 (g) The commission may request from all state agencies whatever information and
81	81	53assistance the commission requires.
82	82	54 (h) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants,
83	83	55or bequests, or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this section. These funds shall be
84	84	56deposited in a separate account with the state secretary’s office, be received by the state secretary
85	85	57on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law. 4 of 5
86	86	58 (i) The commission staff shall consist of a paid executive director, employees and
87	87	59volunteers who assist the commission in effecting its statutory duties. The commission shall
88	88	60appoint the executive director for a term of 3 years.
89	89	61 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 1, the initial members of the American Muslim
90	90	62commission shall be appointed for the following terms:-
91	91	63 (a) The governor shall appoint, on or before December, 1, 2024, 2 members, each for a
92	92	64term of 3 years.
93	93	65 (b) The attorney general shall appoint, on or before December 1, 2024, 1 member for a
94	94	66term of 3 years.
95	95	67 (c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint, on or before December 1,
96	96	682024, 1 member for a term of 3 years.
97	97	69 (d) The president of the senate shall appoint, on or before December 1 2024, 1 member
98	98	70for a term of 3 years.
99	99	71 (e) The state secretary shall appoint, on or before December 1, 2024, 2 members, each for
100	100	72a term of 3 years.
101	101	73 (f) The chair of the Senate committee on racial equity, civil rights shall appoint, on or
102	102	74before December 1, 2024, 2 members, each for a term of 3 years.
103	103	75 (g) The chair of the House committee on racial equity, civil rights shall appoint, on or
104	104	76before December 1, 2024, 2 members, each for a 3 year term. 5 of 5
105	105	77 SECTION 3. The executive director of the American Muslim commission, established by
106	106	78section 1, shall initially be appointed by the commissioners for the term of 3 years on or before
107	107	79December 1, 2025.
108	108	80 SECTION 4. Sections 1 to 3, inclusive, shall take effect on December 1, 2024.