Amendment #8 to H4278

Gun Violence Prevention Commission

Mr. Sánchez of Boston moves to amend the bill by inserting the following section:

SECTION XXX. There shall be a gun violence prevention commission to study primary prevention of gun violence, in the context of public health and mental health.

(a) This commission shall report to the governor and shall recommend model programs and interventions to reduce gun violence and promote peace in the Commonwealth. The commission shall make recommendations including, but not limited to, the following topics:

a. Promoting education in schools on gun violence and the social context of community violence, including but not limited to, poverty, race, socio-economic status, geographic location, and gender.

b. Continuing research and education on gun trafficking and straw purchasing

c. Building relationships between law enforcement and community members

d. Improving services for families and homicide survivors, including trauma and rehabilitation services

e. Improving post-prison planning and rehabilitation services

f. Reducing inequities in gun violence and prevention programming

(b) The commission shall consist of the following: 1 expert on public health and gun violence who will be appointed chair by the governor.  The chair will make recommendations to the governor to appoint the following: 1 representative from DPH; 1 representative from DMH; 1 representative from the office of the attorney general; 1 additional expert on public health; 1 expert on mental health; 1 representative from the Department of Corrections; 1 representative from the Department of Public Safety; 1 representative from the Massachusetts Parole Board; 2 victim advocates; 1 prisoner advocate; 1 mental health advocate; the House and Senate co-chairs of the joint committee on public health; the House and Senate co-chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse; and 4 public members, including 1 youth seat, from communities that are affected by gun violence.

(c) The Departments of Public Health, Public Safety, Corrections, the Boston Public Health Commission and local boards of health, and any other relevant departments will be required to share relevant data, including data on crimes, accidents, and suicides, stratified by race, ethnicity, and gender, as needed by the commission, to better inform recommendations.

(d) The commission will meet at least monthly, and at other times, as determined by the chair.

(e) The commission shall submit an annual report at the end of each fiscal year, to the governor and the general court, the joint committee on public health, and the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse.  The report shall include data on gun violence and prevention in the Commonwealth, recommendations for designing, implementing, and improving gun violence prevention programs and services, including those that promote cultural competency, and any proposals for statutory or regulatory changes to reduce gun violence and promote peace in the Commonwealth.