S.1030, “An Act Relative to Establishing the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision,” received the endorsement of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on the Judiciary over the past month. It would bring the Commonwealth into a nation-wide compact with other states to allow for the tracking of adult offenders who move from state to state following their release from prison. "This measure has been a long time in coming," said Representative Keenan, a member of the Judiciary Committee, "As part of the compact, we are making a strong commitment to protecting the public safety of Massachusetts' children, families, and neighborhoods. Massachusetts will be a safer place because of this legislation. I hope the Governor will sign it into law as soon as possible.” S.2073, “An Act to Provide Timely Access to Emergency Contraception,” will greatly expand and protect a rape victim’s right to emergency care. It would require hospital emergency rooms to make emergency contraception available to survivors of rape and would also allow trained pharmacists to dispense the medication without a prescription if they are part of a voluntary collaborative agreement with a physician. “Emergency contraception ought to be easily available
for victims of rape,” said Representative Keenan, a cosponsor of
the House version of the bill, H.1643, “This is a matter of public
health and has been endorsed by the Mass Medical Society, Mass Public
Health Association, and Mass Pharmacy Association. It will expedite
a woman’s access to the medication and help reduce the number of
unintended pregnancies in our Commonwealth.”
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