HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3556 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1867
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Ellen Story
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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 a Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Ellen Story | 3rd Hampshire | 1/16/2015 |
Lori A. Ehrlich | 8th Essex | 8/2/2019 |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex | 8/2/2019 |
Sean Garballey | 23rd Middlesex | 8/2/2019 |
Stephen Kulik | 1st Franklin | 8/2/2019 |
Peter V. Kocot | 1st Hampshire | 8/2/2019 |
Jose F. Tosado | 9th Hampden | 8/2/2019 |
Ruth B. Balser | 12th Middlesex | 8/2/2019 |
Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire | 8/2/2019 |
John C. Velis | 4th Hampden | 8/2/2019 |
Benjamin B. Downing | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden | 8/2/2019 |
Jennifer E. Benson | 37th Middlesex | 8/2/2019 |
Michael D. Brady | Second Plymouth and Bristol | 8/2/2019 |
John W. Scibak | 2nd Hampshire | 2/2/2015 |
Gloria L. Fox | 7th Suffolk | 1/30/2015 |
Eric P. Lesser | First Hampden and Hampshire | 2/4/2015 |
Timothy R. Madden | Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket | 8/2/2019 |
Paul R. Heroux | 2nd Bristol | 8/2/2019 |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester | 8/2/2019 |
Benjamin Swan | 11th Hampden | 8/2/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3556 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1867
By Ms. Story of Amherst, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1867) of Ellen Story and others for legislation to establish a Hampshire-Franklin commission on the status of women. Municipalities and Regional Government. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act establishing a Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
(a) There shall be a Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women which shall consist of nine persons to be appointed by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women established in section 66 of chapter 3 of the General Laws. The Hampshire-Franklin commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in Hampshire and Franklin counties. The commission shall report its findings to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women annually, not later than June 2, and recommend solutions to the problems facing the women of Hampshire and Franklin counties. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women shall make appointments to the Hampshire-Franklin commission from a pool of applicants who reside in Hampshire and Franklin counties.
(b) Members shall serve three-year terms and shall remain in office until their successors are appointed. Members shall not be reappointed for more than two consecutive terms. However, former commissioners may reapply to serve on the commission after one year has passed since their last term. Of the initial members appointed to the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women, three members shall be appointed for a term of one year, three members shall be appointed for a term of two years and three members shall be appointed for a term of three years.
(c) Vacancies in the membership of the Hampshire-Franklin commission shall be filled by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for the balance of the unexpired term.
(d) In making appointments to the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women shall consult with women's organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 annually through an open application that shall be widely distributed throughout Hampshire and Franklin counties. Members of the commission shall be diverse and represent a variety of the towns and municipalities in both Hampshire and Franklin counties.
(e) Members shall serve on the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women as volunteers and shall not be compensated.
(f) The Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers as it deems necessary.
(g) The Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women shall meet at least four times a year, at the members' discretion. Members of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women may attend the meetings of the Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women.
(h) The Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests and federal funds for any of the purposes of this act. The funds shall be deposited in a separate account to be expended at the discretion of the commission.
(i) The Hampshire-Franklin Commission on the Status of Women may: (i) use voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered or required; (ii) recommend policies and make recommendations to state and local agencies and officers to effectuate the purposes of the commission; (iii) enact by-laws for its own governance; (iv) hold regular public meetings, conduct fact-finding hearings and hold other public forums as it deems necessary; and (v) take other actions as it deems necessary to effectuate its purposes.