HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4443        FILED ON: 2/21/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3980

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

_________________

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 establishing LGBTQIA+ parent advisory councils in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/21/2025

Liz Miranda

Second Suffolk

2/26/2025

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

6/12/2025

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

6/25/2025

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

11/12/2025

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

5/20/2025

Samantha Montaño

15th Suffolk

3/5/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4443        FILED ON: 2/21/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3980

By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Liz Miranda and Samantha Montaño for legislation to establish LGBTQIA+ parent advisory councils in public schools.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing LGBTQIA+ parent advisory councils in the Commonwealth.

 

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. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1D the following section:

Section 1E. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the school committee of any city, town, or school district shall establish a LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, or another identity on the Queer spectrum) parent advisory council. Membership shall be offered to all parents who identify themselves as LGBTQIA+ or have children who identify as LGBTQIA+, and other interested parties.

The duties of the council shall include, but not be limited to: (i) advising the school committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of LGBTQIA+ students; (ii) meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development and evaluation of the school district’s programs; (iii) participating in the review of school improvement plans under section 59C of chapter 71 and district improvement plans under section 1I of chapter 69. Upon request from a parent advisory council, each school committee or school council within that parent advisory council's district shall meet at least annually with the council; provided, however, that if the parent advisory council advises a charter school the board of the charter school shall, upon request from the parent advisory council, meet not less than annually with the council. The parent advisory council shall establish by-laws regarding officers and operational procedures. In the course of its duties under this section, the council shall receive assistance from the school committee without charge, upon reasonable notice, and subject to the availability of staff and resources. SECTION 2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall adopt, promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations or formulate policies and make recommendations as necessary to implement this act. SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027