Amendment #4 to S1897

Housing

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Peterson of Grafton, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough and deMacedo of Plymouth moves to amend the bill by adding at the end thereof the following new section:—

“SECTION XX. There is hereby established a special commission for the purposes of examining the housing and shelter options available to victims of domestic violence and exploring various options for expanding such resources through legislation.  As a part of its study, the commission shall examine the feasibility and costs associated with establishing a tax incentive to be available to hotels and motels offering free rooms to victims of domestic violence, and the possibility of creating a database of participating hotels and motels through the Massachusetts office of victim assistance which would be made available only to victim advocacy groups that directly assist domestic violence victims in obtaining housing.  The commission shall consist of the executive director of the Massachusetts office of victim assistance or designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; the secretary of housing and community development or a designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; one member of the senate, appointed by the senate president; one member of the senate, appointed by the senate minority leader; one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house; one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the house minority leader; the president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association or designee; the commissioner of revenue, or a designee;  a representative of the Massachusetts Lodging Association; three members of victim advocacy groups, appointed by the governor. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any draft of legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on the judiciary, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate on or before December 31, 2014.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #4 to S1897

Housing