SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1527        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1878

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 to ensure gender parity on public boards and commissions.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1527        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1878

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act to ensure gender parity on public boards and commissions.

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. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 56, the following section:-

Section 56A. (a) (1) Beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the composition of each appointed public board and commission in the Commonwealth shall broadly reflect the general public of the commonwealth, including persons of different backgrounds, abilities, interests, and opinions including ethnic minorities and women and shall have not less than 50 per cent women board members or commissioners.  

(2) For the purposes of this section, “woman” means an individual who self-identifies her gender as a woman, without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth.

(b) When practicable, the racial and ethnic composition of each board and commission shall reflect the percentage of racial and ethnic minorities in the general population.

(c) (1) The commission against discrimination shall collect and release, annually, at a minimum, and on an aggregate basis, the following:

(A) Demographic data provided by all public board and commission applicants relative to ethnicity, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

(B) Demographic data provided by all public board and commission nominees or appointees relative to ethnicity, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

(2) Any demographic data disclosed or released pursuant to this section shall disclose only aggregated statistical data and shall not identify any individual applicant, nominee, or appointed board member or commissioner.

SECTION 2. The commission against discrimination shall provide annual notification of the provisions in section 1 to each appointing authority.