Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S143 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. 1717 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 143
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Robyn K. Kennedy
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 study the role of resettlement agencies in the successful integration of new arrivals in
13	13	the Commonwealth.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester 1 of 4
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1717 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 143
19	19	By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 143) of Robyn K. Kennedy for
20	20	legislation to study the role of resettlement agencies in the successful integration of new arrivals
21	21	in the Commonwealth. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act to study the role of resettlement agencies in the successful integration of new arrivals in
28	28	the Commonwealth.
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. (a) The executive office of housing and livable communities, in conjunction
32	32	2with the executive office of health and human services and the office for immigrants and
33	33	3refugees, shall conduct a comprehensive study and release a report on the state of immigrant and
34	34	4refugee resettlement infrastructure in the commonwealth. The report shall include
35	35	5recommendations on ways in which the existing refugee resettlement structure can be most
36	36	6effectively leveraged and integrated into the commonwealth’s policies towards immigrants and
37	37	7refugees.
38	38	8 (b) The report shall analyze, collect data on, and include accompanying recommendations
39	39	9on:
40	40	10 (1) the state of the existing reception and placement structure in Massachusetts, including
41	41	11but not limited to: 2 of 4
42	42	12 (i) current efforts to resettle refugees, as designated by the federal Office of Refugee
43	43	13Resettlement, and other newly arrived individuals, including efforts to assist refugees in
44	44	14obtaining adequate housing, healthcare, education, transfer of professional licensure and
45	45	15workforce development training;
46	46	16 (ii) the economic impact of newly arrived individuals in the commonwealth on the labor
47	47	17and employment market and revenue generated through tax collection in the commonwealth;
48	48	18 (iii) any failures or gaps in resources that exist in the current system of services for
49	49	19refugees and recently resettled individuals, including geographic regions that lack support;
50	50	20 (iv) where state funds should be allocated to strengthen current systems or address gaps
51	51	21in service;
52	52	22 (v) the coordination of state agencies, community based organizations and resettlement
53	53	23agencies before, during, and after joint resettlement efforts;
54	54	24 (vi) the relationship between the commonwealth and systems of the federal government,
55	55	25including but not limited to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the
56	56	26designated Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGs);
57	57	27 (vii) how the commonwealth can support a strong and coordinated resettlement structure
58	58	28for all newly arrived immigrants by leveraging existing best practices and infrastructure of
59	59	29existing resettlement agencies; and
60	60	30 (viii) the effect on resettlement agencies of federal policies that dismantle the federal
61	61	31resettlement system 3 of 4
62	62	32 (2) the state of the current integration system in place for immigrants and refugees in the
63	63	33commonwealth, including but not limited to:
64	64	34 (i) the current integration pipeline and the systems in place to assist refugees from time of
65	65	35arrival through end of services; and
66	66	36 (ii) public policy and funding structures that the commonwealth should support to ensure
67	67	37the successful long-term integration of refugees into our society and workforce.
68	68	38 (3) the utilization of resettlement agencies in the state emergency assistance and shelter
69	69	39infrastructure, including but not limited to:
70	70	40 (i) the efficacy of integrating resettlement agencies and the services that they provide into
71	71	41existing state emergency assistance programs and structures;
72	72	42 (ii) additional support required from state agencies and partners to execute a successful
73	73	43integration; and
74	74	44 (iii) how to best balance state funding for emergency assistance in tandem with funding
75	75	45for the fulfillment of the federal-state partnership for refugee resettlement.
76	76	46 (c) In order to fulfill the completion of the report, the executive office of housing and
77	77	47livable communities and the executive office of health and human services may procure services,
78	78	48including consulting services, and otherwise involve experts, stakeholders, and members of the
79	79	49public. The commission shall be supported by staff from the office for refugees and immigrants.
80	80	50 (d) Members of both the executive office of housing and livable communities and the
81	81	51executive office of health and human services shall be named to support the fulfillment of this
82	82	52report within 60 days of the effective date of this act. Not later than 1 year after the effective date 4 of 4
83	83	53of this act, the report shall be filed with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives
84	84	54and the director of the office of refugees and immigrants, together with any draft legislation,
85	85	55regulations or administrative procedure necessary to better serve refugees and immigrants
86	86	56resettling in the commonwealth.