Immigration (Refugees & Asylum)

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 143) of Robyn K. Kennedy for legislation to study the role of resettlement agencies in the successful integration of new arrivals in the Commonwealth. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

This bill allocates $425 million from a special fund to provide supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, primarily affecting families experiencing homelessness and immigrant/refugee populations. It establishes temporary respite sites for eligible families (up to 30 days, extendable under specific conditions) and requires new background checks for emergency housing applicants, including disclosure of serious criminal convictions (excluding sealed/expunged records) and consent for criminal record checks. The bill also limits emergency housing eligibility to 6 consecutive months for families with children or pregnant women, with exceptions for hardship cases like domestic violence, veterans, or high-risk pregnancies. These provisions aim to streamline housing assistance while adding verification requirements and time limits.

By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 143) of Robyn K. Kennedy for legislation to study the role of resettlement agencies in the successful integration of new arrivals in the Commonwealth. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 260) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf that the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities conduct a study on the state of immigrant and refugee resettlement infrastructure in the Commonwealth. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.