SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1391        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1030

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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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 establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote increased voter participation and civic engagement.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1391        FILED ON: 2/16/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1030

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 establish a November holiday honoring President John F. Kennedy, to promote increased voter participation and civic engagement.

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. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “October,”, in line 100, the following words:- John F. Kennedy Day.

SECTION 2. Section 15L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “November”, in line 2, the following words:- in all odd-numbered years and the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in all even-numbered years.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-        

     Section 220. There shall be a commission on the celebration of John F. Kennedy Day.  The commission shall consist of: 2 persons to be appointed by the governor; 2 persons to be appointed by the state secretary, 1 of whom shall be designated to serve as chair; 1 person to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the president of the senate; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 person to be appointed by the executive director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; 1 person to be appointed by the president of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation, Inc.; and 1 person to be appointed by the president of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

        The commission shall recommend activities that promote civic engagement and voter participation including, but not limited to: (i) establishing a Kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, education curriculum; (ii) hosting special events; (iii) marketing, which shall include the publication and distribution of materials and online content; (iv) voter engagement activities; (v) voter registration drives; and (vi) voter access. The commission shall meet not less than semiannually. The commission shall issue an annual report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than December 31.