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S 1125

Relates to establishing student loan repayment accounts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 3 co-sponsors

Expands the Victim and Witness Assistance Board’s duties to fund services, educate providers, advocate for victims’ rights, and require multi-language postings in courthouses.

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Bill Summary · S 1125

Summary — S.1125: "An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board"

Status & Procedure
- Docket: Senate No. 1404 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 194th General Court, 2025–2026).
- Filed: 01/16/2025. Sponsor/petitioner: Senator Adam Gómez (Hampden).
- Committee: The Judiciary. Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 (A‑2).
- Notes: Similar matter was filed in the prior session (S.995 of 2023–2024).

Purpose / Intent
- Modernize statutory duties, governance, and public outreach responsibilities of the Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board (chapter 258B). Increase accessibility of victim/witness rights information and expand the board’s operational and advocacy roles.

Key Provisions and Changes
1. Updated posting and language-access requirement (amends section 3):
- Requires conspicuous posting in all courthouses and police stations of a summary of victims’ and witnesses’ rights.
- The board must provide that information (to court officials and police chiefs) in printed or digital formats.
- Information must be provided in the top five languages spoken at home (other than English), according to the most recent federal census.

  1. Gender‑neutral language change (amends section 4):

    • Replaces the pronoun “him” with “them” to modernize statutory language.

  2. Expanded board responsibilities and governance (amends section 4 — inserts new paragraphs):

    • Require the board to establish, adopt, and maintain bylaws for internal governance.
    • Explicit duties added: a. Fund and support victim services statewide. b. Provide professional development and community education for victim services providers, victims, and allied professionals; share information about statutory rights and services. c. Advocate for policy and legislative initiatives related to victims’ rights and services (including funding). d. Manage and administer the Garden of Peace (public memorial on the plaza of 100 Cambridge Street, Boston) — accept gifts/grants and create an advisory committee of interested residents appointed by the board. e. Administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program.

  3. Minor technical edit to section 6:

    • The bill strikes the words “the board” from section 6 (textual impact depends on the broader statutory context).

Who Is Affected
- Primary: crime victims and witnesses across Massachusetts (improved access to rights information and services).
- State/local government: courts and police departments (obligation to conspicuously post summaries and receive materials); the Victim and Witness Assistance Board (expanded duties, governance, and program/admin responsibilities).
- Service providers and allied professionals: new professional development and education expectations.
- The public/communities: beneficiaries of Garden of Peace stewardship and SAFEPLAN program oversight.

Practical and Fiscal Considerations
- Implementation may require resources for translation, printing/digital distribution, staff time for new governance processes, program administration (SAFEPLAN), and management of the Garden of Peace. The bill explicitly authorizes the board to receive gifts/grants for the memorial, but does not specify new budget appropriations. Exact fiscal impact would depend on administrative choices and any appropriations or external funding obtained.

Effective Date / Misc.
- No explicit effective date in the summary text; bill proceeds through Judiciary committee with scheduled hearing.

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

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