Bill > S900

This bill aims to prevent and respond to bullying of elderly and disabled residents in multifamily residential housing developments subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Defining bullying as repeated written, verbal, electronic, or physical expressions that cause harm, create a hostile environment, or disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of the residential community. 2. Requiring owners/managers to develop and implement a bullying prevention and intervention plan in consultation with residents, local law enforcement, and other stakeholders. 3. Mandating owner/manager training and resident education on bullying prevention. 4. Establishing procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents of bullying or retaliation, including notifying authorities when civil or criminal charges may be warranted. 5. Providing avenues for residents to appeal to the state's civil rights division in cases where the owner/manager is the alleged perpetrator. 6. Requiring owners/managers to make the plan available to residents, staff, and the public, and to oversee its implementation. The goal is to create a safer and more inclusive living environment for elderly and disabled individuals in subsidized multifamily housing.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S900