HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3182        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 811

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jay D. Livingstone

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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 create a commission examining child disenfranchisement and recommending alternatives.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3182        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 811

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to create a commission examining child disenfranchisement and recommending alternatives.

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. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to section 24A of Chapter 111 of the general laws to examine and make recommendations on children’s voting rights and access to civic engagement.

(b) The commission shall consist of at least the following 11 members: the house and senate chairs of the committee on elections, or their designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; the house and senate minority leaders, or their designees; the Secretary of State, or their designee; 1 member from the Generation Citizen; 1 member from the MA Council for the Social Studies; 1 member from Common Cause MA; 1 member from MassVOTE; and, appointed by the Governor, 1 developmental pediatrician from Pediatric Healthcare at Newton-Wellesley, 1 guardian ad litem from MA Court Appointed Special Advocates and 1 professor who has published two or more peer-reviewed papers about voting age in the last ten years.

All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

(c) The commission shall investigate and report on the inclusion of those under 18 years of age to participate in elections.

(d) The special legislative commission shall conduct public hearings, forums or meetings across the Commonwealth to gather information. These processes shall be required to be held in different regions of the Commonwealth and at least half must be held outside of business hours including, but not limited to, on the weekend, weeknights and virtually. 

(e) Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, the commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the secretary of state, the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on elections.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.