By Representative González of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2335) of Carlos González and others for legislation to reduce recidivism through evidence-based programs. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Fluker Oakley of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2326) of Brandy Fluker Oakley and others relative to successful transitions and re-entries for incarcerated persons. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes the time limit for survivors of child sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits in Massachusetts, allowing them to seek compensation regardless of how much time has passed since the abuse occurred. It also extends this right to sue negligent supervisors or employers who failed to prevent the abuse, provided there is proof of their negligence. The law applies to cases that happened before, during, or after the bill's passage, ensuring that past incidents are not barred by previous expiration dates.
April 22, 2024 -- The committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 520) of Jason M. Lewis, John Barrett, III, Jacob R. Oliveira, Thomas M. Stanley and other members of the General Court that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) to establish a protected pollinator habitat, report the accompanying resolve (Senate, No. 2728).
April 22, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 240) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to mental health education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 247) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Susannah M. Whipps for legislation relative to remodel public school athletics through social-emotional learning; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 248) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Vanna Howard for legislation to promote social-emotional learning; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 276) of Barry R. Finegold and Vanna Howard for legislation relative to safety and violence education for students (the SAVE Students Act); (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 333) of Jacob R. Oliveira and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 342) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation relative to substance use education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 346) of Rebecca L. Rausch, Lydia Edwards and James B. Eldridge for legislation to ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 350) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to physical and social recess in schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2741).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts municipalities and commercial building owners to install physical barriers, such as bollards or retaining walls, between parking areas and sidewalks to prevent vehicles from accidentally hitting pedestrians or buildings. The law specifically applies to on-street parking next to commercial buildings and off-street lots for new developments, ensuring that these safety features do not reduce the minimum width required for accessible walkways. Additionally, the legislation creates a 15-member advisory commission to study best practices and develop future regulations for improving pedestrian safety in parking and public spaces. While the bill mandates these construction standards, it also allows for waivers in unique circumstances where compliance would be an unreasonable burden, provided alternative safety measures are implemented.
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2313) of Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Agricultural Resources to jointly hire an organization to survey farmers and SNAP recipients about the Healthy Incentives Program. The survey aims to gather feedback on how well the program meets the needs of both groups, specifically asking about awareness, usage frequency, barriers to participation, and overall experiences. Commissioners must set deadlines for conducting the survey within 12 months of the bill's passage and ensure the results are published online and submitted to the state legislature. This initiative focuses on collecting data to improve future outreach and ensure the program effectively supports both food assistance recipients and local farmers.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for wetlands and water resources during housing development applications. It requires that any decision to deny a waiver for local environmental rules be presumed to support community needs, as long as those rules aim to protect waters, wetlands, and groundwater. The change directly affects municipalities, regional governments, and developers by reinforcing the authority of local conservation commissions to uphold environmental safeguards. By establishing this presumption, the legislation ensures that local environmental priorities are prioritized over development requests unless proven otherwise.
By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2317) of Carol A. Doherty and others relative to the establishment of the PFAS research and development public safety fund to be administered by the Secretary of Public Safety and Security. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
