Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1696 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. 3865 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1696
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Brandy Fluker-Reid
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 to cure us of the liabilities that ultimately restricted equity.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Brandy Fluker-Reid12th Suffolk1/17/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/6/2025 1 of 4
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3865 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1696
18	18	By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1696) of
19	19	Brandy Fluker-Reid and Samantha Montaño relative to establishing a commission to study and
20	20	develop proposals for lineage-based reparations programs in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3921 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act to cure us of the liabilities that ultimately restricted equity.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. There shall be a commission to study and develop proposals for reparative
32	32	2justice in the commonwealth through a truth and reconciliation process, to redress harms
33	33	3resulting from the institution of slavery and its legacy endured by formerly enslaved citizens of
34	34	4Massachusetts and their descendants. For the purposes of this act, descendants of formerly
35	35	5enslaved people in the United States shall be understood to be members of the Freedmen class,
36	36	6hereinafter referred to as American Freedmen. American Freedmen are that class of persons
37	37	7emancipated in the United States via the 13th Amendment in 1865 or earlier, and their
38	38	8descendants. Members of the commission shall be considered special state employees for
39	39	9purposes of chapter 268A of the General Laws. 2 of 4
40	40	10 The commission shall develop reports documenting the effects of slavery and its legacy
41	41	11on the American Freedmen class in the commonwealth. These reports shall include, but not be
42	42	12limited to, the effects of slavery, domestic terrorism, political disenfranchisement, housing
43	43	13segregation, separate and unequal education, pathologizing of the Freedmen families,
44	44	14environmental and infrastructure partiality that disproportionately affects the Freedmen class,
45	45	15control over creative cultural and intellectual life, stolen labor and hindered opportunity, an
46	46	16unjust legal system, neglect, mental and physical harm, as well as the persistent and growing
47	47	17wealth gap of American Freedmen.
48	48	18 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of 15 members, the majority of whom shall
49	49	19be members of the American Freedmen class: 11 members appointed by the governor, 1 of
50	50	20whom shall have expertise in remedial justice, 1 of whom shall have expertise in genealogy, 2 of
51	51	21whom shall have expertise in the history of American slavery and institutional discrimination
52	52	22and systemic racism, 2 of whom shall be members of organizations concerned with remedial
53	53	23justice, 1 of whom shall have expertise in forensic accounting, 1 of whom shall have expertise in
54	54	24public policy, 2 of whom shall be Massachusetts residents of the American Freedmen class who
55	55	25have demonstrated a commitment to advocating for remedial justice, and 1 of whom shall have
56	56	26expertise in constitutional law; 2 members appointed by the president of the senate; and 2
57	57	27members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
58	58	28 The appointing authorities shall create a public application process, including a written
59	59	29application, an interview, and thorough vetting. To the extent possible, the appointing authorities
60	60	30shall appoint members to the commission who have a verified familial connection to the
61	61	31American Freedmen class. The commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its
62	62	32members. 3 of 4
63	63	33 SECTION 3. (a) The commission shall develop:
64	64	34 (i) proposals for remedial resolutions, including proposals for the form and amount of
65	65	35reparative remedies; and
66	66	36 (ii) a summary of data from the truth and reconciliation process. The commission shall
67	67	37consider a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, lump sum payments, yearly
68	68	38payments, victims’ assistance funds, homeowners’ assistance, tuition assistance, tuition refunds,
69	69	39mortgage refunds, and tax credits.
70	70	40 (b) The commission shall develop criteria to determine the eligibility of beneficiaries of
71	71	41state reparative measures and programs and a method for application to such programs.
72	72	42 (c) The commission shall make recommendations for the implementation of reparative
73	73	43measures, including recommendations regarding:
74	74	44 (i) the timeline for the implementation of such programs, with attention to how they
75	75	45would function for present and future generations;
76	76	46 (ii) draft legislation for the implementation of such programs; and
77	77	47 (iii) resources and materials for educating the public on remedial justice and reparative
78	78	48programs.
79	79	49 SECTION 4. Within 2 years, the commission shall submit a report of its findings and
80	80	50recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out such
81	81	51recommendations, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint
82	82	52committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion, and the house and senate committees on
83	83	53ways and means. Within 2 years, the commission shall notify the public of its findings. 4 of 4
84	84	54 SECTION 5.
85	85	55 (a) Quorum. A quorum for conducting business shall consist of 5 members.
86	86	56 (b) Compensation. Non-legislative members of the commission shall receive reasonable
87	87	57per diem compensation for attendance at up to 10 meetings, subject to appropriation. Members
88	88	58shall also be reimbursed for customary expenses incurred during the execution of their duties.
89	89	59 (c) Vacancies. Vacancies shall not impede the commission’s work and shall be filled by
90	90	60the original appointing authority for the remainder of the term.
91	91	61 SECTION 6. The commission shall serve as a continuing resource for the commonwealth
92	92	62by providing consultation to the permanent commission on the status of African Americans,
93	93	63established in section 72 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, and reviewing and advising on
94	94	64policies impacting the American Freedmen class to ensure equity and justice.
95	95	65 SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon its passage.