SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2442        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 21

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam G. Hinds

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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 proposal for constitutional amendment:

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to equity in state policy.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Adam G. Hinds

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2442        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 21

By Mr. Hinds, a petition (accompanied by proposal, Senate, No. 21) of Adam G. Hinds for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to equity in state policy.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

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Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to equity in state policy.

 

A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the state election next following]:
 

ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
 

Article I of Part the First of the Constitution, as amended by Article CVI of the Articles of Amended is hereby annulled and the following is adopted:-

All people are born free and equal and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness. Equality under the law and within the policies of the commonwealth shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Persistent unequal outcomes among such categories shall constitute inequality under the law and shall thereby be unconstitutional.