HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4610        FILED ON: 10/5/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Steven George Xiarhos and Peter J. Durant

_________________

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 relative to reimbursing cities, towns, and regional school districts for the costs of providing supportive services to migrants.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Steven George Xiarhos

5th Barnstable

10/5/2023

Peter J. Durant

6th Worcester

10/5/2023

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

10/8/2023

David T. Vieira

3rd Barnstable

10/16/2023

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

11/1/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4610        FILED ON: 10/5/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

By Representatives Xiarhos of Barnstable and Durant of Spencer, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Steven George Xiarhos, Peter J. Durant and others relative to reimbursing cities, towns, and regional school districts for the costs of providing supportive services to migrants.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to reimbursing cities, towns, and regional school districts for the costs of providing supportive services to migrants.

 

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commonwealth shall reimburse every city, town, and regional school district for their actual and documented costs of providing food, clothing, housing, health care, security and public safety, education, and employment assistance to any migrant, refugee, or other person according to the state of emergency declared by the Governor on August 8, 2023, including but not limited to any person relocated to any city or town under the Massachusetts Refugee Resettlement Program established by chapter 6 of the General Laws.

SECTION 2. The secretary of the executive office for administration and finance or his designee shall, not less than monthly, report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the house of representatives, and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on ways and means on the number of migrants who have been resettled by the commonwealth within each city or town since January 1, 2023, together with an accounting of all costs incurred by the commonwealth for supporting such migrants during the preceding month. Said monthly reports also shall contain an accounting of the percentages of migrants being housed in publicly-owned buildings, hotels, motels, and privately-owned buildings or residences within each city and town; provided, that the secretary, within his discretion, shall be permitted to aggregate data when necessary to prevent the personal identification of any migrant or family.