SARP’s Legislative Agenda
A legislative agenda is a list of all legislation currently in government that supports a particular policy, program, or idea.
Through our legislative agenda, we’ve highlighted legislation in Massachusetts that would positively impact the lives of survivors on Boston University’s campus. This legislative agenda supports SARP’s missions and advances the values of survivor rights, equity, and justice.
5 ways to support SARP’s legislative agenda
- Contact local Senators and Representatives to advocate for an issue. It can be as simple as sending an email, calling their offices to leave a message, or scheduling an appointment with their office. Elected officials rely upon their constituents to tell them about the issues that are most important to them and their community.
- Register to vote! As a college student in Massachusetts, you can register to vote locally! Your vote could positively impact your time in Boston. Many university students living in Boston tend to make the city home after graduating.
- Attend local rallies, press conferences, and other advocacy days at the Massachusetts State house to advocate for issues that inspire you.
- Bring up these issues in your everyday conversations. Create discussions with family, friends, and co-workers about policy issues to enhance their knowledge. Check out SARP’s guide for having difficult conversations.
- Stay Informed! Keep up-to-date on current issues by reading newspapers, watching or listening to the news, and following SARP’s social media for updates. See some of our recommended sources below:
Find your legislators
Allston-Brighton Senator
Allston-Brighton Representative
Brookline Senator
Brookline Representative
Cambridge Senator
Cambridge Representative
Cape Cod Senator
Cape Cod Representative
Fall River Senator
Fall River Representative
Jamaica Plain Senator
Jamaica Plain Representative
Somerville Senator
Somerville Representative
South End Senator
South End Representative
Worcester Senator
Worcester Representative
Bills We Support
H.4241: An Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation
Image-based sexual assault, or revenge porn, is an issue that is becoming more and more prevalent. This bill would expand the definition of abuse in state law to better address efforts at coercive control, and strengthen protections against image-based sexual assault, which is experienced by a growing number of young survivors, in particular. Learn more here.
S.1979: An Act Establishing a Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium
MA increases spending on incarceration yearly, even though the number of people in prisons and jails has decreased. This bill would pause the construction of any new prisons or jails in MA for 5 years, giving MA the opportunity to use that money to invest in communities. Our communities know how to create sustainable solutions to address the root causes of incarceration. Learn more here.
S.268: An Act Relative to Healthy Youth
A large part of the prevention work we do at SARP is education-based. This bill ensures that sexuality education, when taught, is age-appropriate and medically accurate. Educating youth on how to identify and have healthy and respectful relationships free of abusive behavior is a critical form of preventing sexual and domestic violence. Learn more here.
H.2288: An Act to Protect the Civil Rights and Safety of All Massachusetts Residents (Safe Communities Act)
Immigrant survivors and their families fear accessing services and systems that increase safety and support because of the threat of deportation. This bill rebuilds community trust by making it clear that immigration enforcement has no place in state and local law enforcement, making it safer for survivors to come forward to seek support and services. Learn more here.
H.1599: An Act Enhancing Access to Abortion Care
Reproductive justice is survivor justice. The right to safe and equitable reproductive rights, including abortion, is not only a matter of public health but also of gender equity and racial justice. This bill requires that there is no waiting period for abortions and that consent forms, and any other forms and documents, are confidential and cannot be released to anyone but the patient, the provider who performed the abortion, or by the patient’s written informed consent. This bill also ensures that there is no required counseling, ultrasound, or review of ultrasound results. We support legislation that expands access to abortion and protects the rights of survivors. Learn more here.