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Gomez files bill to modernize victim and witness assistance board
Summary
A bill filed Jan. 16 would amend chapter 258B to require language access, gender-neutral wording, bylaws, and expanded duties for the victim and witness assistance board, including managing the Garden of Peace and administering SAFEPLAN.
A bill filed Jan. 16, 2025 by Adam Gomez would amend Massachusetts General Laws chapter 258B to update how the victim and witness assistance board operates and to expand its responsibilities across the commonwealth.
The bill, filed as Senate No. 1125 and referred to the Judiciary Committee, would require a summary of rights to be conspicuously posted in all courthouses and police stations. To meet that requirement, the bill directs the victim and witness assistance board to provide information in printed or digital formats and to supply translations in the top five languages spoken at home other than English according to the most recent federal census.
The measure makes several statutory edits to section 4 of chapter 258B. It replaces a gendered pronoun in one paragraph, striking the word "him" and inserting "them." It also requires the board to establish and maintain bylaws governing internal operations.
Beyond governance changes, the bill enumerates specific duties for the board. It would (a) fund and support victim services statewide; (b) provide professional development and community education for victim services providers, victims and allied professionals and share information about victims' rights and services; and (c) advocate for policy and legislative initiatives related to access to and funding for victim services.
The bill also adds two programmatic responsibilities. It would direct the board to assume management and administration of the Garden of Peace, a public memorial located on the plaza at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston, to accept gifts or grants to aid maintenance, and to establish an advisory committee of interested residents appointed by the board. Finally, the bill specifies that the board shall administer the SAFEPLAN advocacy program.
A separate technical edit in the draft strikes the words "the board" from section 6 of chapter 258B as shown in the filing. The bill text does not set an effective date or appropriate funding levels for the expanded duties; those details would be determined later in the legislative process if the measure advances.
The filing identifies Adam Gomez as the petitioner from Hampden and notes referral to the Judiciary Committee. No committee action or floor vote is recorded in the filing text.
