Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011
Legislative News
MBA applauds House and Senate passage of groundbreaking transgender rights bill; Habitual offender legislation heads to conference committee
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MBA applauds House and Senate
passage of groundbreaking transgender rights bill
The Massachusetts Bar Association applauds the Senate for its
Nov. 16 action in joining the House in passage of a bill that would
make transgender persons a protected class under the state's
existing anti-discrimination laws, ensuring they cannot be
discriminated against in the areas of employment, housing, credit
and education. The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Deval
Patrick, who has indicated he supports the bill and will sign it
into law.
"This law is necessary because it makes those protections
explicit, uniform and visible -- to businesses, schools, landlords
and the general public," MBA President Richard P. Campbell said.
"Importantly, the legislation protects transgender individuals, and
moreover anyone who does not fit gender stereotypes."
The MBA's governing body, the House of Delegates, voted
unanimously in 2007 to support the bill, "An Act Relative to
Transgender Equal Rights."
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Habitual offender legislation heads
to conference committee
On. Nov. 16, the House of
Representatives enacted legislation that would eliminate parole
eligibility for third-time violent offenders. While both bills
contain provisions on repeat violent felons, the Senate version
would also amend mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug
offenders and reduce school zones, while the House version would
not.
The two sentencing bills will now head to a conference committee.
The conference committee will then hash out a compromise. Senate
President Therese Murray has indicated that she intends to appoint
Senators Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) and
Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) to the conference committee. House
conferees have not yet been named.
The Massachusetts Bar Association is a long time opponent of
mandatory minimum sentences and will continue to advocate for their
elimination. So far during the administration of Gov. Deval
Patrick, the MBA has successfully sought changes to our harsh
sentencing laws.