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Maddie2024-08-21 17:29:222024-08-21 17:29:22Help stop the wrongful separation of families. Demand language access for all!2023-2024 Legislative Agenda
The Program & Policy Committee of Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice’s Board of Directors has voted to include the following pieces of state legislation as part of MA Appleseed’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda. Each of these bills is a key component of our work to fight for inclusive policies and ensure Massachusetts families and youth can achieve justice, access the opportunities they are entitled to, and thrive. Sign up for opportunities to take action!
* Priority bill
Access to Justice
*An Act Relative to Language Access and Inclusion (H.3084/S.1990)
Sponsored by Rep. Madaro, Rep. González, and Sen. DiDomenico
Standardizes and enforces language access policies and protocols at public-facing state agencies to ensure all residents can obtain the information and resources they need to successfully navigate common problems and achieve stability.
*An Act to Create Access to Justice (H.1677/S.953)
Sponsored by Rep. Meschino and Sen. DiDomenico
Bans Massachusetts state agencies and other government entities from engaging in methods, policies, or practices that have a harmful disparate impact on members of a legally protected class (i.e. race, gender, age, disability, or national origin) and fills a gap in existing civil rights law by creating a private civil right of action for any person subject to disparate impact discrimination committed by Massachusetts state agencies and other government entities.
An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts (H.1731/S.864)
Sponsored by Rep. Rogers, Rep. Day, and Sen. DiDomenico
Establishes an Access to Counsel program to provide legal representation to eligible tenants and owner-occupants in eviction proceedings.
Educational Justice
*An Act Enhancing Learning in the Early School Years Through a Ban on School Exclusion in Pre-Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (H.453/S.289)
Sponsored by Rep. Decker and Sen. Gomez
Aims to improve educational outcomes and graduation rates by banning Massachusetts public schools from suspending or expelling students in grades pre-K through third grade for disciplinary infractions.
*An Act to Ensure Equitable Access to Education, Including Special Education Services, for All Students in Massachusetts (H.454/S.249)
Sponsored by Rep. Decker and Sen. Creem
Requires publicly available school discipline data to be disaggregated in a way that can be easily cross-tabulated, which can help advocates better identify disparities and inequitable treatment of students.
*An Act to To Reduce Exclusionary Discipline For Violations of Rules Related To Student Grooming and Dress (H.4400)
Sponsored by Rep. Fluker Oakley and Sen. Gomez
Prohibits school officials from suspending or expelling students solely based on the violation of dress codes, which disproportionately impact Black and brown girls.
An Act Relative to Safer Schools (H.517/S.300)
Sponsored by Rep. Khan and Sen. Kennedy
Supports schools that want to transition their school safety programs to ones that do not rely on police and requires more transparency on the impact of School Resource Officers’ interactions with students and their information sharing with law enforcement agencies.
An Act Relative to the Location of School Resource Officers (H.565)
Sponsored by Rep. Sabadosa
Supports efforts to transition to police-free school safety by requiring school resource officers be stationed off school grounds.
An Act Relative to the Training, Assessment, and Assignment of Qualified School Interpreters in Educational Settings (H.437/S.253)
Sponsored by Rep. Cabral and Sen. Crighton
Ensures limited English proficient parents and students are provided with competent interpretation services at school.
An Act to remedy disparities in students’ educational achievement (H.597/S.294)
Sponsored by Rep. Meschino, Rep. Ultrino, and Sen. Jehlen
Addresses disparities in exclusionary discipline by narrowing acceptable parameters for suspension or expulsion and strengthening due process protections to safeguard students’ rights.
An Act Relative to Educator Diversity (H.549/S.311)
Sponsored by Rep. Peisch and Sen. Lewis
Develops an alternative process for granting educator licensure and establishes guidelines to increase racial and ethnic diversity among teaching, administration, and staff positions, thereby enhancing the impact of additional reform efforts and improving outcomes for BIPOC students.
An Act Relative to Universal School Meals (H.603/S.261)
Sponsored by Rep. Vargas and Sen. DiDomenico
Guarantees free universal school meals for all students attending Massachusetts schools.
Youth Homelessness
*An Act Allowing Certain Minors to Consent to Supportive Services (H.4394)
Sponsored by Rep. Khan and Sen. Gomez
Expands the legal rights of unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness and ensures they can better meet their basic needs by allowing those ages 15 or older to consent to supportive services without a parent or guardian.
*An Act to Provide Identification to Youth and Adults Experiencing Homelessness (H.3360/H.3388/S.2251)
Sponsored by Rep. Khan, Rep. O’Day, and Sen. Kennedy
Removes barriers and eases the process for youth experiencing homelessness to obtain state ID, which they need to accomplish a host of everyday tasks and access services.
An Act Protecting Benefits Owed to Foster Children (H.157/S.65)
Sponsored by Rep. Farley-Bouvier and Sen. Comerford
Protects foster children’s Social Security benefits by prohibiting the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families from taking these benefits for the state’s General Fund and ensuring children receive 100% of the money they are legally entitled to. This will provide youth with greater financial independence that can help them avoid homelessness, incarceration, and further trauma as they age out of the system.
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Maddie2024-08-21 17:29:222024-08-21 17:29:22Help stop the wrongful separation of families. Demand language access for all!
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Maddie2024-06-26 12:46:282024-06-26 12:46:28TAKE ACTION: Two Major Bills Open the Door for Youth-Focused Policy Change!
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Maddie2024-05-31 13:08:412024-05-31 15:43:29Education Over Exclusion: Stop Discriminatory Treatment of Students Based on What They Wear
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Maddie2024-02-29 15:14:102024-05-31 14:51:43Joint Rule 10 Day Progress Report: Where Did Our Legislative Priorities Land?
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Maddie2023-10-18 11:30:532024-05-31 15:43:43Urge Your Legislators to Break Down a Major Barrier for Youth Experiencing Homelessness!An Act to improve and modernize the information technology systems and capacities of the judiciary
The Judiciary IT Bond bill was signed into law August 10, 2022 and is codified in Chapter 175 of the Acts of 2022!
Provides $165.5 million in funding to update the Massachusetts Trial Court’s IT structure and ensure the implementation of 1) Digital Courthouses and Courtrooms, 2) a Modern and Secure Judiciary, and 3) Modern Court Operations.
An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural hairstyles
The CROWN Act was signed into law July 26, 2022 and is codified in Chapter 117 of the Acts of 2022!
Amends state civil rights laws to include protections against natural hairstyle discrimination.
An Act promoting student nutrition
Signed into law October 2021!
Ends lunch shaming, a practice in which children are humiliated or denied lunch because of an unpaid school meal debt.
An Act regarding breakfast after the bell
Signed into law August 4, 2020!
Alleviates childhood hunger by expanding access to school breakfast.
Learn more about Rise and Shine Massachusetts, a statewide coalition which advocates for state legislation that increases equitable access and participation in school breakfast for thousands of low-income children across our Commonwealth.
An Act relative to educational opportunity for students
The Student Opportunity Act was signed into law November 26, 2019 and is codified in Chapter 132 of the Acts of 2019!
Reforms the state’s funding formula for public education to provide increased and equitable school funding, improving access to quality educational opportunities for students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, immigrant youth, and youth experiencing homelessness.
The State Budget Process
Each year, the Massachusetts state legislature passes a state budget that provides funding for various state programs, agencies, and departments for the following year. The budget process begins in January, when the Governor files their budget recommendations. In April and May the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate each pass their own separate budget proposals and in June, a Conference Committee made up of three Senators and three Representatives, is appointed to iron out the differences between the House and Senate budgets. A joint budget is sent to the Governor by July 1st and the Governor has ten days to approve, amend, or veto each line item.
At each stage of this process, advocates, including Massachusetts Appleseed and our supporters, have opportunities to contact their elected representatives and urge them to adequately fund programs that they care about.
You can reach your elected officials by:
- Calling the State House switchboard: 617-722-2000
- Looking up their email and other direct contact information via www.wheredoivotema.com.
Sign up to receive ACTION ALERTS from Massachusetts Appleseed with information about how you can advocate in support of funding for programs that address youth homelessness and access to education and justice.
