State MOVA Sponsored Legislation
H.1654/S.1063 An Act to enhance the rights of crime victims in the Commonwealth
Sponsored by Rep. Marjorie C. Decker and Sen. Julian Cyr
Clarifies and revises the current language in the Victim Bill of Rights (M.G.L. Chapter 258B) to address unfulfilled commitments, codifies practices by criminal justice agencies that have evolved since the statute was created in 1984, and adds new rights to the Bill of Rights that reflect the needs of crime victims today, including:
- Improved notification to victims throughout criminal justice agencies
- Increased access to victim services to crime victims and families when indictments are not issued
- Strengthened practice and purpose of victim impact statements in the court system
- Enhanced cooperation between law enforcement, judicial system, and post-conviction agencies
- Enhanced language access to victims who identify as “limited English proficient”
- The Victim Bill of Rights, enacted in 1983, created the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA), the country’s first independent state victim assistance agency.
H.1640/S.1125 An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the VWAB
Sponsored by Rep. Michael Day and Sen. Adam Gomez
Amends MOVA’s enacting statute to better reflect the work that the Victim and Witness Assistance Board does to serve victims of crime. This bill is meant to codify existing practices and serve as a blueprint for the future leadership of MOVA to be reflective of our role in administering grant funding, providing education and training, leading policy development, and providing administration and oversight of both the Garden of Peace and the SAFEPLAN program. Technical amendments offer updates to account for digital access of materials and diverse language needs.
H.2935/S.1870 An Act relative to victim witness advocate retirement classification
Sponsored by Rep. Edward Philips and Sen. Adam Gomez
Reclassifies victim witness advocates, as defined in M.G.L. Chapter 258B,§1, to group 2 status in order to further professionalize the field, reduce staff turnover, and put advocates in the same professional classification as similar court employees.
H.1655/S.1413 An Act to promote victim service funding
Sponsored by Rep. Marjorie C. Decker and Sen. Mark C. Montigny
Allows for private donations to be deposited into both the Human Trafficking and Drunk Driving Trust Funds to allow for additional funding to support programming and grants, as well as mitigate funding instability and challenges.
H.1826/S.1055 An Act relative to the victim compensation program
Sponsored by Rep. Kathleen R. LaNatra and Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem
Transfers responsibility for the administration of the state’s Victim Compensation program from the Attorney General’s Office to MOVA, giving the agency the independent authority to administer and review claims. The bill also modernizes language to promote inclusivity, establishes enhanced confidentiality parameters for processing claims, and establishes a 15-day timeline for notifying claimants in writing of their approval or denial for victim compensation. These changes aim to streamline the program’s processes and improve accessibility for survivors seeking financial support.
For more information, please contact movapolicy@mass.gov.