Commission on the Status of Women, parity-on-boards bill and technical fixes get support at hearing

Representatives of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and allied lawmakers urged the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to advance legislation to promote diversity on public boards and to give the commission more administrative flexibility.

Meredith Tuitt, speaking for the commission, described H.3398/S.216 as a measure to promote gender and racial parity on public boards and commissions through increased transparency, data collection and reporting. "Public boards and commissions influence policies and initiatives that directly touch all the residents of the commonwealth," Tuitt said, urging lawmakers to require better appointment practices and data to reveal representation gaps.

Representatives Joseph Vieira and Luddy presented H.3433, a bipartisan technical change to the Commission on the Status of Women's reporting deadline and to allow its trust fund to compound interest. Representative Vieira said changing the annual-report date from early June to July 31 would let the commission close out the fiscal year and present a fuller account of activities. Shaitia Spurell, the commission's executive director, said the existing June 2 deadline "cuts us off" from reporting work completed in June and that adjusting the date and allowing fund interest to compound would aid scholarships and other programs.

Witnesses and representatives said the bills do not ask current members to be removed, but seek to broaden appointment outreach and provide the commission with sustainable resources. Committee members accepted written testimony and did not take votes on the bills during the session.