The Boston Globe reports that on Friday, the co-chairmen of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Senator William N. Brownsberger and Representative John V. Fernandes, told the Globe that committee members were being polled on two versions of the bill. Brownsberger, the Senate chairman, said he believes both versions of the bill “are intended to fully protect transgender people from discrimination.”
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Breakthrough on transgender rights bill?
The Lowell Sun reports on the transgender bill to be debated on May 12th according to Senate President Stanley Rosenberg who said, “I am glad to hear the Joint Committee on the Judiciary plans to release the Senate and House Public Accommodations bills,” Rosenberg said. “The Senate has been prepared to debate this since November, and we will go forward as planned on May 12th with our debate. It is imperative that legislators get a bill to the Governor’s desk as quickly as possible to end discrimination under the law for all transgender individuals. I thank Senate Chair Will Brownsberger, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and the other members of the committee for their leadership in moving this bill forward.”
Bills aim to curb teacher-student relationships
The Cape Cod Times reported on two bills being reviewed by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary relative to the age of consent. “We haven’t reached a full consensus yet, but I’m hopeful,” Brownsberger said.”
Proposed legislation adds visibility to issue of cyclist safety
The Belmont Citizen-Herald reports on Senator Brownsberger’s efforts to pass bike safety legislation. “I have been working on this issue as long as I have been in the Legislature,” said State Sen. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, who is sponsoring four of the key bills. “Several currently pending bills have been filed in the past couple of years, but we have reached the point where the issue has the necessary visibility.”
Criminal Justice Reform Seen As Major Goal For Baker And Beacon Hill Democrats
WGBH reports, “A new working group lead by Gov. Charlie Baker’s top legal aide and the Legislature’s two Judicial Committee Chairs is bringing the state’s court, law enforcement, public safety and reentry stakeholders to the table to establish comprehensive criminal justice reform goals and the means to execute them.”
New Review Of Mass. Criminal Justice System Prompts Deeper Look Into Recidivism
WBUR reports on the initial finds presented by the Council of State Government’s Justice Center to the state’s new Working Group reviewing the criminal justice system. “So far, the center’s researchers have analyzed publicly-available data and decided to further its review of three areas: incarceration, recidivism and supervision.” The presentation given by the Council at the meeting can be found at this post.