Bill > S2209

This bill amends existing Massachusetts law to introduce stricter penalties for discrimination in lobbying. Specifically, the bill requires the state secretary to automatically disqualify any person or organization found to have engaged in unlawful discriminatory practices from acting as an executive or legislative agent (lobbyist) for a period of 4 years from the date of final determination. The disqualification applies to both individual cases of discrimination and situations where an organization discriminates against its members based on protected classes as defined in Chapter 151B (which typically includes characteristics like race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, ancestry, disability, military service, or veterans status). The bill also mandates that the secretary establish an adjudicatory process to receive and review complaints of such discrimination, ensuring a formal mechanism for handling and investigating potential discriminatory practices in lobbying. This legislation aims to promote fairness and prevent discriminatory behavior in the lobbying process by imposing significant professional consequences for violations.