State Victim and Witness Board (VWAB) Endorsed Legislation
H.656/S.340 An Act relative to healthy youth
Sponsors: Representatives James O’Day and Vanna Howard and Senator Sal DiDomenico
Provides Massachusetts youth with the information and foundation they need to protect their health, encourage healthy relationships, and plan their futures. The bill requires certain schools to develop written policies that ensure parental or legal guardian notification of age-appropriate, medically accurate, LGBTQ-inclusive, and comprehensive sexual health education.
H.2143/S.1294 An Act relative to employment protections for victims of abusive behavior
Sponsors: Representative Jay D. Livingstone and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem
Addresses existing gaps and inequities in current employment laws that leave many victims/survivors of abusive behavior vulnerable and at risk at work. The bill adds a prohibition against discrimination based on a person’s status as a victim/survivor of abusive behavior to existing employment nondiscrimination law; requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations, without undue burden, to victims of abusive behavior to ensure employees’ safety and ability to address the abusive behavior for themselves or close family members; and updates the existing Abusive Behavior Leave Law (M.G.L. Chapter 149, Section 52E) to be consistent with new definitions and ensures that protections apply to prospective employees.
H.1683/S.1116 An Act to strengthen justice and support for sex trade survivors
Sponsors: Representatives Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Mary S. Keefe and Senator Cindy F. Friedman
Prioritizes the well-being of sex trade survivors by adopting a survivor-centered approach. It aims to prevent and respond to the realities of commercial sexual exploitation while improving access to essential resources for survivors. The legislation replaces stigmatizing language and definitions, expunges the criminal records of prostituted persons who are survivors of the commercial sex trade, establishes an interagency commission to enhance prevention and support services for survivors, and increases the funding allocated to the Victims of Human Trafficking Trust Fund, managed and administered by MOVA.
H.2189/S.1354 An Act relative to bereavement leave
Sponsors: Representatives Christopher J. Worrell and Sean Garballey and Senator Liz Miranda
Mandates employers to provide time off (up to 10 days) to employees experiencing the death of a close family member, establishes a legal requirement for bereavement leave, and ensures job security for employees impacted by loss. Employers with fewer than 25 employees would not be required to comply.
Federal Victim and Witness Board (VWAB) Endorsed Legislation
HR.909 To temporarily provide additional deposits into the Crime Victims Fund
Sponsored by United States Representative Anne Wagner (MO)
Redirects dollars collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) into the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), which supports services for survivors across the country, through FY29. The FCA holds individuals or groups that knowingly submit false claims to the government accountable for their actions, which, in many cases, is through associated fines and fees. This temporary infusion of resources would help stabilize the CVF and give victim assistance programs the support necessary to keep their operations running.
For more information, please contact movapolicy@mass.gov.