Please see the action alert below from the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless regarding the last actions needed to pass legislation to support unaccompanied homeless youth. Please act now if you can!
Good news! Yesterday, the State Senate took action on the unaccompanied youth homelessness bill, House Bill 4517. The bill was reported out favorably, with minor changes, by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. It then was passed to be engrossed by the full Senate. Even though the House previously also had passed the bill on their side, the bill has been sent back to the House for concurrence, due to the amendment.
The bill is back at the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, chaired by Representative Ted Speliotis of Danvers. We are pushing for the bill to move out of Third Reading in time for the House to approve the amended version of the bill and send it back to the Senate for another vote tomorrow. Time is running short, but passage still is possible.
Please take a few minutes today to reach out to key decision makers in support of the bill:
- Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, 617-722-2500,robert.deleo@mahouse.gov, Twitter: @SpeakerDeLeo
- Senate President Therese Murray, 617-722-1500,therese.murray@masenate.gov, Twitter: @ThereseMurrayMA
- Rep. Ted Speliotis, Chair of the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, 617-722-2410, Theodore.
Speliotis@mahouse.gov
Please take action today to help ensure that the bill crosses the finish line in the final days of this legislative session and is signed into law by the Governor.
Your actions can make this holiday season brighter for the thousands of youth and young adults across the Commonwealth who are experiencing homelessness out on their own, without a parent or guardian.
Thank you for your continued support!
With gratitude,
Kelly Turley
Director of Legislative Advocacy
