Amendment #859 to H5007

Special Legislative Commission on Housing as a Human Right

Mr. Connolly of Cambridge moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION  XXXX.

SECTION 1. A special legislative commission (“the commission”) is hereby established for the purposes of making an investigation relative to the provision of housing in the Commonwealth and considering public, expert, and stakeholder input and testimony and issuing findings and recommendations relative to the potential for establishing programs or implementing other policy changes to formally establish housing a human right for all people in the Commonwealth.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of 23 members: the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee who shall serve as co-chair; the minority leader of the house of representatives or a designee; the president of the senate or a designee who shall serve as co-chair; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing; the attorney general or a designee; the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development or a designee; along with 8 appointees from the speaker and 8 appointees from the president of the senate, representing a broad range of perspectives including tenants, homeowners, small landlords, housing justice organizers and advocates, real estate development professionals, municipal officials, regional planning professionals, organized labor, and members with other relevant backgrounds. All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3. The commission shall be charged with examining the following: (a) Policies and programs relevant to housing stability for tenants, homeowners, and landlords, including but not limited to, local option rent stabilization and good cause eviction protections, (b) Policies designed to end homelessness in the Commonwealth, including but not limited to, Housing First programs, low threshold housing programs, and wrap-around services, (c) Policies necessary to guarantee housing for all people in the Commonwealth, including by not limited to, social housing, community land trusts, public housing, and public-private partnerships.

SECTION 4. The commission shall take input from a broad range of stakeholders with a diverse range of interests affected by state policies. Not later than four months after all appointments to the commission have been made, pursuant to section 2, the commission shall report to the general court the result of its investigation and offer recommendations on the path to establishing housing as a human right in the Commonwealth and establishing a program of guaranteed Housing For All, along with recommendations of implementation and funding mechanisms.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #859 to H5007

Special Legislative Commission on Housing as a Human Right