Bill > S1984

This bill establishes a 19-member commission tasked with studying and proposing solutions to prevent bullying of tenants in public and subsidized multi-family housing, with a particular focus on elderly and disabled residents. The commission will include representatives from various state agencies like health and human services, the attorney general's office, elder affairs, and housing and community development, as well as legislative leaders and appointees from housing advocacy and legal services organizations, including those representing tenants and individuals with disabilities. The commission's work will involve identifying the causes of bullying, researching successful prevention methods from other settings, developing best practices, raising public awareness, and recommending policy changes and legislation to protect tenants. To ensure broad input, the commission will invite participation from tenants who have experienced bullying, housing managers, industry professionals, and bullying prevention experts, and will hold public meetings across the Commonwealth. The commission is required to submit its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2016, to legislative clerks and relevant joint committees.