FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 27, 2018
Contact:
Amani Mansour, Communications Director to Chairwoman Kay Khan
(617) 722-2011, Amani.Mansour@MAhouse.gov
Chairwoman Kay Khan Heads Special Commission On Abuse Of Animals, Children, The Elderly, And Disabled Persons
BOSTON, MA – Representative Kay Khan (D-Newton), House Chair, along with Senator Joan B. Lovely, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, led the first meeting of the Special Commission on Mandated Reporting of Known or Suspected Animal Cruelty, and Abuse of Children, the Elderly, and Disabled Persons.
The 18 person Commission, established by the Massachusetts Legislature under the passage of An Act to protect animal welfare and safety in cities and towns (PAWS II), is charged with providing recommendations and guidelines that would better prevent abuse of any animal and vulnerable individual. The Commission is due to submit its report regarding policies and procedures in reporting abuse by the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Elder Affairs and Disabled Persons Protection Commission by March 1, 2019.
“If an individual is in a position to report neglect and abuse of an animal, child, elder or disabled person, they should have the tools and knowledge to take this step with confidence that they are doing the right thing,” said Chairwoman Khan, “One report of abuse is too many – and I have and will work tirelessly to prevent any mistreatment in the Commonwealth.”
Officials in the Commission:
Representative Kay Khan, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Senator Joan B. Lovely, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Representative Danielle Gregoire, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
Senator Barbara L’Italien, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
Representative James O’Day, House Chair of Municipalities and Regional Government
Senator Brendan Crighton, Senate Chair of Municipalities and Regional Government
Representative Smitty Pignatelli, House Chair of Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Senator Anne Gobi, Senate Chair of Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Representative Steven Howitt, Commission Appointee of House Minority Leader
Senator Patrick O'Connor, Commission Appointee of Senate Minority Leader
Michael Cahill, Division of Animal Health Director, Department of Agricultural Resources
Andrew Levrault, Assistant General Counsel of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission
Dana Sullivan, Budget Director for Financial Analysis, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
David Clayton, Chief of Environmental Crimes Strike Force, Office of the Attorney General
Kara Holmquist, Director of Advocacy of MSPCA-Angell
Mary Nee, President of the Animal Rescue League of Boston
Kathleen Flynn, Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts
Officer Harold MacGilvray, President of the Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition
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