The Massachusetts House gave initial approval to a new version of legislation that aims to prevent sexual assault on college campuses, advancing a measure that many legislators want to get to Gov. Charlie Baker before the Tuesday end of session.
The House adopted a Ways and Means Committee amendment (H 5241) to a bill the Senate passed in December, and ordered the amended bill to third reading. If the House passes the bill, the branches would then need to agree on final language before the bill could make its way to Baker.
Last month, Ways and Means Chairs Sen. Michael Rodrigues and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz said in a joint statement that they intended to work together and "quickly reconcile differences" to complete the campus assault bill. The House and Senate could not reach agreement on the issue in the 2017-2018 session and had to start over in 2019.
The bill the Senate passed on Dec. 16 (S 2979) would require colleges and universities to conduct sexual misconduct climate surveys of their students every four years. Colleges and universities would also need to adopt sexual misconduct policies that include information on reporting assaults, supportive and protective measures available for survivors, and procedures for resolving and investigating misconduct claims.
Introducing the bill last month on the Senate floor, Sen. Michael Moore said it aims to "lift the veil of secrecy" around sexual violence at colleges, strengthen due process protections for the accused, and help change the culture on campuses.