SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1814        FILED ON: 5/2/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1842

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Karen E. Spilka

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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 the MetroWest commission on the status of women and girls.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1814        FILED ON: 5/2/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1842

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act establishing the MetroWest commission on the status of women and girls.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. There is established a permanent commission on the status of women and girls in MetroWest consisting of 9 persons who are to be appointed by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in MetroWest. The commission shall report their findings to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women annually, on or before June 2, and recommend solutions to the problems facing the women of MetroWest. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women shall make such appointments to the MetroWest commission from a pool of applicants who reside in MetroWest. For the purpose of this act, MetroWest shall include the following cities and towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Clinton, Dover, East Walpole, Fayville, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lancaster, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Millerville, Millville, Norfolk, Northborough, Norwood, Sheldonville, South Walpole, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston, Woodville, and Wrentham.

SECTION 2. (1) Members shall serve a term of 3 years and until their successors are appointed. Commissioners may be reappointed for 2 consecutive terms. After the completion of 2 consecutive terms, former commissioners may reapply to serve on the commission after a year has passed since their last term. The initial members of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women and Girls shall be appointed for the following terms: 3 members for a term of one year, 3 members for a term of two years, and 3 members for a term of 3 years. (2) Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for the balance of the unexpired term. (3) Appointments by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women and Girls shall be made in consultation with women's organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open application that is widely distributed throughout MetroWest. Members of the commission should be diverse and represent different towns and municipalities in MetroWest. (4) Members shall serve on the commission as volunteers and will not be compensated. (5) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers it deems necessary. (6) The commission shall meet at least 4 times a year, at the members' discretion. Members of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women may attend the meetings of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. (7) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants, or bequests, or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this section. Such funds shall be deposited in a separate account to be expended at the discretion of the commission. (8) The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: a) to use voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed; b) to recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of the commission; c) to enact bylaws for its own governance; and d) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may deem necessary.