HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5227 FILED ON: 8/6/2020
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Smitty Pignatelli
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the naming of municipal boards.
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PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Smitty Pignatelli 4th Berkshire
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5227 FILED ON: 8/6/2020
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[Pin Slip]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act relative to the naming of municipal boards.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
forthwith provide for equity in the naming of municipal boards, therefore it is hereby declared to
be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby
2 amended by inserting after section 21E the following section:-
3 Section 21F. In a city or town that accepts this section pursuant to section 4 of chapter 4,
4 a city or town shall have the power to adopt a gender neutral title for its board of selectmen or
5 board of aldermen; provided, that said boards shall retain all powers and authorities of a board of
6 selectmen or board of aldermen under any general or special law. Members of said boards in
7 cities or towns that adopt a gender neutral title shall thereafter be known as the corresponding
8 gender neutral title; provided, that said members shall retain all powers and authorities of a
9 selectman or alderman under any general or special law.
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