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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1116 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2155
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
_________________
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 establishing a commission on the status of transgender people.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patricia D. JehlenSecond MiddlesexLindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/24/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/10/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester3/10/2025 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1116 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2155
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2155) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Lindsay
N. Sabadosa, James B. Eldridge and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a
permanent commission on the status of transgender people to conduct an ongoing study of all
matters concerning transgender people. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
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 establishing a commission on the status of transgender people.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 3 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after Section 75 the following new section:-
3 Section 76
4 (1) There is established a permanent commission on the status of transgender people
5consisting of 20 persons as follows: 5 persons appointed by transgender-led organizations or
6groups that directly serve, support, or advocate for transgender people in Massachusetts; 2
7persons appointed by transgender-focused health programs at Massachusetts-based healthcare
8centers and/or hospitals; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+
9elders; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ students; 2
10person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with
11homelessness or unstable housing; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports 2 of 5
12LGBTQ+ people with domestic and/or intimate partner violence; 1 person appointed by an
13organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people; 1
14person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ sex workers; 1 person
15appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ people with disabilities; 1 person
16appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with immigration,
17seeking asylum/refugee status, or other non-citizen statuses; 1 person appointed by an
18antipoverty organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals; and 1 person appointed by
19an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ veterans. The membership of the commission
20shall include at least: 10 transgender persons, total; 2 transgender persons between the ages of
2118-24; 2 transgender persons aged 60 or older; and 2 representatives of the mental health
22professions.
23 (2) Members of the commission shall be drawn from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, age,
24gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds and shall have had experience
25working toward the improvement of the status of transgender people in society. Members shall
26also be drawn from throughout the commonwealth to ensure broad representation. Members
27shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees. The
28commission shall be an independent agency of the government of the commonwealth and shall
29not be subject to the control of any other department or agency.
30 (3) (a) Members shall serve terms of three years and until their successors are appointed.
31 (b) Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original
32appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term. 3 of 5
33 (c) appointments shall be made in consultation with transgender rights organizations.
34Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open
35application process using a uniform application that is widely distributed throughout the state.
36 (d) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer
37and any other officers it deems necessary.
38 (e) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but
39shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their
40duties.
41 (4) The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning transgender
42people. In furtherance of that responsibility, the commission shall: (a) study, review and report
43on the status of transgender people in the commonwealth;
44 (b) inform leaders of business, education, health care, state and local governments and the
45communications media of issues pertaining to transgender people;
46 (c) serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with
47issues affecting transgender people;
48 (d) serve as a clearinghouse for information on issues pertaining to transgender people;
49 (e) identify and recommend qualified transgender people for appointive positions at all
50levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the commission deems necessary
51and appropriate;
52 (f) assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect transgender people,
53as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; 4 of 5
54 (g) advise executive and legislative bodies on the effect on transgender people of
55proposed legislation, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; and
56 (h) promote and facilitate collaboration among local transgender commissions and among
57transgender organizations in the state, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate.
58 The commission shall annually, on or before June 2, report the results of its findings and
59activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of the
60senate and house of representatives.
61 (5) The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following:
62 (a) to use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and
63organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed;
64 (b) to recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the
65state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (3);
66 (c) to select an executive director and to acquire adequate staff to perform its duties,
67subject to appropriation;
68 (d) to establish and maintain such offices as it may deem necessary, subject to
69appropriation;
70 (e) to enact bylaws for its own governance;
71 (f) to appoint members to regional chapters of the commission; and
72 (g) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public
73forums as it may deem necessary. 5 of 5
74 (6) The commission shall meet once every month. The (i) governor, (ii) speaker of the
75house of representatives, (iii) president of the senate and (iv) designated members of the
76LGBTQ+ caucus of legislators shall be invited to attend the monthly meetings on a rotating
77basis.
78 (7) (a) The commission may request from all state agencies such information and
79assistance as the commission may require.
80 (b) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants
81or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. Such funds shall be
82deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by said treasurer on behalf of
83the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.