Bill > S1181

This bill establishes a permanent commission on reparations in Massachusetts comprised of 15 members appointed by various state leaders, including experts from academic, social science, civil rights, and grassroots organizing backgrounds. The commission's primary purpose is to study and recommend reparative actions for slavery and its ongoing consequences for residents of African descent, focusing on historical injustices from 1565 to the present. The commission will comprehensively investigate the impacts of slavery, discrimination, and systemic racism, including analyzing economic, educational, social, and psychological harm experienced by African Americans. Members will research historical documentation, conduct community-based investigations, and develop recommendations for potential remedies, which may include financial compensation, policy changes, public education, and formal apologies. The commission is mandated to submit a detailed written report of its findings and recommendations to the state legislature within two years of its first meeting, with the broader goal of addressing historical wrongs and promoting racial justice in Massachusetts. The commission will have significant investigative powers, including holding hearings, requesting documents, and seeking court orders to compel testimony, and its work is intended to complement any existing or future reparations efforts at federal or local levels.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1181