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