Budget Amendment ID: FY2023-S4-460-R1

Redraft EHS 460

Composition of the Victim and Witness Assistance Board

Messrs. Gomez and Eldridge and Ms. Gobi moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 46 the following 2 sections:-

“SECTION 46A. Section 4 of chapter 258B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

There is hereby established a victim and witness assistance board consisting of 7 members who shall serve without compensation. Notwithstanding section 6 of chapter 268A to the contrary, the board shall consist of: the attorney general or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 2 district attorneys appointed by the governor; and 4 members of the public appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall be victims of crime and 1 of whom shall represent a community disproportionately impacted by high rates of violence and crime or a population underserved due to racial or ethnic identity; provided, however, that the 3 members who are victims of crime shall be selected from a list of not less than 5 nominations provided by the executive director of the Massachusetts office of victim assistance; and provided further, that for the purposes of this paragraph, “members of the public” shall not include any current local, state or federal elected officials. Members of the board shall be selected from diverse ethnicities, races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic statuses and geographical backgrounds and from throughout the commonwealth. All members shall serve for a term of 3 years and until their successor is duly appointed and qualified; provided, however, that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term. Members of the board shall be eligible for reappointment.

SECTION 46B. Said section 4 of said chapter 258B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “four” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "6."