Bill > S1677

This bill proposes to revitalize the Right of Free Petition, which is the ability of citizens to petition their government. It calls for the creation of a Special Committee or Commission composed of members from both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate, with appointments made by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, ensuring representation from both political parties. This committee, which will have an eighteen-month lifespan after its members are appointed within three months of the bill's passage, is tasked with developing ways to publicize and educate the general population of Massachusetts about how to use their Right of Free Petition, including the processes for filing proposed legislative actions like Bills, Resolves, Resolutions, and Proposals for Constitutional Amendments. To gather public input, the committee will hold well-publicized hearings not only at the State House but also in at least three other geographically diverse locations across the Commonwealth. Finally, the committee will oversee the creation and dissemination of a generally available publication by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to provide clear information on how citizens can readily exercise this fundamental right.