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Bill

H 1999

An Act establishing a permanent commission to study the service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Alyson Sullivan-Almeida and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts establishes permanent commission to develop and study service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence providers statewide.

Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
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Bill Summary · H 1999

Legislative bill overview

H 1999 establishes a permanent commission in Massachusetts charged with studying and developing service standards for organizations that provide sexual assault and domestic violence services. The commission would examine current practices, identify gaps, and recommend standardized protocols across the state's victim services network.

Why is this important

Sexual assault and domestic violence survivors often encounter inconsistent support depending on which service provider they access, potentially affecting care quality and outcomes. Establishing uniform standards could improve accountability, training requirements, and victim experiences while helping policymakers identify resource gaps in the existing network.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding and staffing: The bill creates a permanent commission but doesn't specify budget allocation, raising questions about implementation costs and whether existing agencies will absorb these expenses
  • Regulatory scope: Unclear whether standards would be advisory or mandatory, and how compliance would be enforced across independent nonprofits and government agencies with different operational structures
  • Timeline and resources: A permanent commission studying standards could face criticism for moving slowly on urgent survivor needs, or alternatively for rushing recommendations without adequate stakeholder input from survivors, providers, and advocates

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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