Bill > S2016

This bill aims to ensure gender parity and racial and ethnic diversity on public boards and commissions in Massachusetts. It defines "Diverse" individuals as those who self-identify as Female, Underrepresented Minority, or LGBTQ+, and sets diversity targets of at least 50% Female and at least 30% Underrepresented Minority or LGBTQ+ membership on these boards and commissions. The bill requires appointing authorities to make focused efforts to attract and recruit Diverse members, and mandates annual reporting on the composition of boards and commissions, as well as the demographics of applicants, to track progress and identify any shortfalls in meeting the diversity goals. The governor's office is responsible for updating the diversity targets based on new census data and publishing an annual report on the state's compliance with the law.