SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1243        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 25

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Harriette L. Chandler

_________________

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 special commission on the status of homeless women.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

 

Kate Hogan

3rd Middlesex

 

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

1/18/2019

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/23/2019

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

1/24/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/25/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/29/2019

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

1/30/2019

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/30/2019

Cindy F. Friedman

Fourth Middlesex

1/30/2019

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

2/1/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/1/2019

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/1/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/4/2019

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/5/2019

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

2/4/2019

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

6/27/2019

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

3/4/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1243        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 25

By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 25) of Harriette L. Chandler, Kate Hogan, David Paul Linsky, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a special commission on the status of homeless women.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a special commission on the status of homeless women.

 

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 shall be a special commission governed by section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to conduct an investigation and study regarding homelessness among women in the Commonwealth.

The special commission shall consist of: two members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as co-chair, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; two members of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate who shall serve as co-chair, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the secretary of health and human services or designee; the commissioner of public health or designee; the secretary of housing and economic development or designee; and the lieutenant governor or designee. The first meeting of the commission shall take place not later than February 28, 2021.

The co-chairs of the special commission shall appoint six representatives, including but not limited to: a representative of Health Care Without Walls; a representative of homeless shelters and agencies; a representative of housing advocacy organizations and agencies; a representative of a service provider with expertise in health care disparities, women’s health, and trauma-informed care; an academic researcher with expertise in women’s homelessness; and an individual who has experienced homelessness.

The special commission shall facilitate the collection and reporting of data on homelessness among women and persons who identify as women; conduct a community needs assessment; and make recommendations regarding homelessness prevention, improving shelters for women and families, increasing permanent housing opportunities, and ensuring that homeless women have access to a full range of health care and social services.

The special commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the chair of the house committee on ways and means, the chair of the senate committee on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on public health, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, the chairs of the joint committee on housing, the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance abuse and recovery, and the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies not later than July 31, 2022.