SENATE DOCKET, NO. 223        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 995

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam Gomez

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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 modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 223        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 995

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board.

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 3 of chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the last paragraph beginning with the words “there shall be conspicuously posted” and inserting the following:-

There shall be conspicuously posted in all courthouses and police stations a summary of the rights afforded under this section. To satisfy this requirement, the victim and witness assistance board, pursuant to section 4, shall provide information on the rights afforded to victims and witnesses to court officials and police chiefs. Information may be provided in printed or digital formats. The board shall provide information in the top five languages spoken at home, other than English, as provided by the most recent federal census data.

SECTION 2. Section 4 of said chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the word “him” in the second paragraph and inserting the following word:- them

SECTION 3. Said Section 4 of chapter 258B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting the following paragraphs:-

The board shall establish, adopt, and maintain bylaws relative to the operation of internal governance.

In addition to the foregoing, the board shall:

(a) fund and support services that are available to victims across the commonwealth

(b) provide professional development and community education opportunities for Massachusetts victim services providers, victims, and allied professionals, including sharing information relative to the victim and witness rights and services established under this chapter

(c) advocate for policy and legislative initiatives related to access and support for victims’ rights and services including but not limited to funding

(d) assume the management and administration of the Garden of Peace, a public memorial garden located on the plaza of 100 Cambridge street in the city of Boston to honor victims of homicide, to receive gifts or grants of money or property to assist the board in the maintenance and operation of the memorial and to establish an advisory committee which shall consist of interested residents appointed by the victim witness assistance board to provide advice to the board.

(e) administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program

SECTION 4. Section 6 of said chapter 258B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words “the board”.