An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board

This bill updates the Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board to better support crime victims and witnesses by clarifying its duties and expanding its resources. It requires the board to distribute a summary of victim rights in English and the top five most spoken languages at home in all courthouses and police stations. The legislation also grants the board authority to manage the Garden of Peace memorial in Boston, administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program, and fund professional development for victim service providers. Additionally, the bill mandates that the board create its own internal bylaws and allows it to accept donations specifically for maintaining the memorial garden.