Climate Change

"I am proud to support legislation that will address the impending threat of climate change because I believe that Massachusetts has a moral and ethical responsibility to defend and bolster our environment." ~ Representative Kay Khan

I have co-sponsored dozens of bills to protect our environment. Check out a list below:

House Legislation

H.898- An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management
H.896- An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators
H.906- An Act ensuring safe drinking water in schools
H.910- An Act empowering towns and cities to protect residents and the environment from harmful pesticides
H.3561- An Act to update the Massachusetts Rideshare Program
H.956- An Act to protect pollinator habitat
H.954-An Act to assure the attainment of greenhouse gas emissions goals in the alternative portfolio standard
H.3523- An Act to reduce congestion and encourage shared rides
H.3223- An Act to promote cost savings through the use of public water
H.3306- An Act to improve outdoor lighting, conserve energy, and increase dark-sky visibility
H.3317- An Act protecting ratepayers from gas pipeline expansion costs
H.3329- An Act relative to a clean transportation future
H.3347- An Act promoting zero-emission vehicles
H.3332- An Act promoting the proper disposal of miniatures
H.3334- An Act relative to home energy efficiency
H.3353- An Act for field safety in gas infrastructure
H.3579- An Act transitioning Massachusetts to electric buses
H.2263- An Act to restrict the use of polystyrene
H.2640- An Act authorizing independent retirement systems to divest from fossil fuel companies

Senate Legislation

S.528- An Act protecting pollinators by eliminating harmful products
S.574- An Act relative to the use of glyphosate on public lands
S.580-An Act ensuring safe drinking water in schools
S.2142- An Act relative to solar power in environmental justice and urban communities
S.2165 - An Act increasing solar rooftop energy
S.2176- An Act to promote gas safety

S.2450- An Act to reduce disposable plastic straw waste

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice reform has always been a primary focus of mine. Thanks to the work done recently in 2018 with the Criminal Justice Reform omnibus bill, and the work of many organizations we are seeing remarkable successes in that area.

All of my criminal justice reform bills – in addition to many of those that I co-sponsored – share the philosophy that harsh, punitive, ‘tough on crime’ policies actually trap people in a cycle of crime and recidivism, where they spend their lives moving in and out of prison with no way to break the cycle. Research shows that by providing more humane sentencing and support to justice-involved individuals, we can help them to reintegrate into their communities, offering an opportunity to succeed and contribute to society, thereby reducing crime long term.

H.1713, An Act relative to sexually exploited individuals

Since 2011, there have been new developments in programs and best practices for not only human trafficking victims but also for people who are being sexually exploited. Upwards of 95% of adults in prostitution were sexually assaulted as children. The average age of entry into commercial sexual exploitation is 14 years old. This bill eliminates the crime for common night walkers, common street walkers, and whoever engages, agrees to engage or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee. The bill also exempts a sexually exploited individual whose body is solicited from the crime of soliciting.

H.3348, An Act relative to conducting a study on sexual offender recidivism

This bill would require a study on the rates of recidivism by sexual offenders to help determine whether the current classification system is accurately classifying offenders. A report is due by June 30, 2020.

Justice-Involved Youth Legislation

Our commitment to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable youth means critically examining our approaches and always striving to improve. By utilizing data-driven, evidence-based approaches, we can ensure justice involved youth have the necessary supports and services to lead healthy lives. ​

H.1386, An Act relative to expungement, sealing and criminal records provisions (with its counterpart S.900) will update the new 2018 law that allows for the expungement of criminal records for individuals whose offense was charged prior to their 21st birthday, by: 

1. replacing the “one court appearance” language allowing expungement for cases that did not result in a conviction or adjudication; and for offenses leading to adjudication and conviction, allows the expungement of misdemeanors after three years and felonies after five years as long as there was no other conviction/adjudication within that time period;

2. reduces the offenses ineligible for expungement to those currently ineligible for sealing; 

3. allows the transmission of juvenile records to the FBI only after an adjudication;

4. allows immediate sealing of juvenile records of disposed cases with non-adjudications; 

5. extends the current law vacating the juvenile adjudications of youth committed to the Department of Youth Services to those whose adjudication did not result in a commitment; and, 

6. ends the use of juvenile court “adjudications” as “convictions” that would trigger mandatory minimum sentences.

H.1486, An Act to reduce recidivism among emerging adults 

This legislation (with its counterpart S.940), would infuse developmentally-appropriate, evidence-informed policies modeled after Massachusetts’ juvenile justice system into the adult criminal justice system to ensure positive outcomes for system-involved young adults and increase public safety. Specifically, the bill would: 

1. amend the purpose statement of the criminal justice system to explicitly articulate rehabilitation as the goal for emerging adults by including language closely resembling the language pertaining to juveniles, with appropriate modifications; and,

2. codify the provisions in the regulations of the Department of Youth Services that apply to late adolescents and young adults so they would also apply to emerging adults held in the Department of Corrections and county Houses of Correction.

H.1481, An Act relative to codifying protections for sexually exploited children

The current statute still allows for the possibility of a minor to be arrested and prosecuted with prostitution related crimes if the minor does not comply with the mandated programs. No minor has endured criminal proceedings for this type of crime since 2015 but minors are still being arrested. This bill eliminates the requirement that court proceedings must begin again if the minor does not complete previously mandated programs.

H.1487, An Act prohibiting discrimination against adults with disabilities in family and juvenile court proceedings

A decision to terminate parental rights, remove custody or deny parenting time to a parent based solely on their disability status violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. This bill will require courts to determine if a parent’s disability causes actual harm to their child when a parent’s disability is relied on as a negative factor in a custody or parenting time determination. It also directs the courts to determine if the harm can be alleviated by adaptive equipment or supportive services for the parent.

H.1710, An Act relative to obtaining relief from abuse and harassment

This bill allows minors who are at least 13 years old to petition the court for a Protection Order to protect them from abuse and harassment. It also allows a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult to file for relief on behalf of the minor. The bill requires the court to appoint counsel for the minor.​

H.3420, An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults

This bill increases the age of criminal majority from 18 to 21 over the course of the next 5 years. 

Justice-Involved Women Legislation

In addition to cosponsoring many pieces of legislation targeting the system as a whole, I sponsored bills dealing specifically with women and children in our criminal justice system. Women and children who end up involved with the justice system have specific needs, and it is important that our system recognize that and provide for those needs. 

H.1484, An Act for Health Education in Women's Correctional Institutions

This legislation makes information on women's health, contraception, and other information available to incarcerated women.

H.2481, An Act to ensure compliance with the anti-shackling law for pregnant incarcerated women

This legislation updates the original Anti-Shackling Law for pregnant incarcerated women to ensure compliance by requiring annual staff training; defining postpartum recovery as minimum of 6 weeks; authorizing medical personnel to determine that a woman is in labor; protecting patients in their care from restraint; and ensuring that instances of shackling are reported to the legislature and EOPSS. Senator Rebecca L. Rausch filed the companion bill, S.1653.

Gender and Equality

Representative Khan and advocacy group, Unchained At Last, protesting child marriage and fighting for women and girls in a press conference on the State House steps in 2017.

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An Act relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors 

So-called “conversion therapy,” sometimes known as “reparative therapy,” is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Practices have been discredited and debunked by every respected and accredited scientific institution, however are still in practice in some states as a form of LGBTQ+ discrimination. Instead of proving to be a helpful resource for minors to cope with questions and insecurities regarding gender and sexuality, those subjected to the widely discredited practice of conversion therapy are at high risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This Bill Prohibits state licensed mental health professionals from subjecting children to conversion therapy practices in an attempt to change sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 

An Act to Reduce Racial Disparities in Maternal Health

This legislation established a 12-person special commission for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to reducing racial disparities in maternal death.​

H.1709, An Act to End Child Marriage in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, child marriage is when one partner in the marriage, usually a girl, is under 18 years of age and therefore a minor. In Massachusetts alone, nearly 1,231 children as young as 14 years old were married between 2000 and 2016 – and 83.7% were girls wed to adult men. Child marriage undermines a girl’s health, education and economic opportunities and increases the risk of domestic violence and divorce. Because they are minors, married children face many obstacles when they try to leave or resist such a marriage including obtaining services from the Department of Children and Families, bringing legal actions including filing for divorce, renting, shelter admission,  and opening a checking account. Therefore, the bill bans marriage under the age of 18 with no exceptions. Senate President Emerita Harriette L. Chandler filed the companion bill, S.24. 

H.1713, An Act Relative to Sexually Exploited Individuals

Since 2011, there have been new developments in programs and best practices for not only human trafficking victims but also for people who are being sexually exploited. Upwards of 95% of adults in prostitution were sexually assaulted as children. The average age of entry into commercial sexual exploitation is 14 years old. This bill eliminates the crime for common night walkers, common street walkers, and whoever engages, agrees to engage or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee. The bill also exempts a sexually exploited individual whose body is solicited from the crime of soliciting.

H.1715, An Act for Health Education in Women’s Correctional Institutions

This legislation would require the Department of Correction to make available to all women entering the facility written information on women’s health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections.The information brochure would be created by the Department of Public Health and offered in the native languages. Prior to their release, women would be offered a gynecological exam, a PAP test, and referral to a community health center. Senator Rebecca L. Rausch filed the companion bill, S.1452.

H.4271, An Act Protecting Children from Harmful Diet Pills and Muscle-Building Supplements

This legislation prohibits the sale of dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to minors under the age of 18. These products can have harmful effects, and are associated with eating and body dysmorphic disorders. The bill would require dietary supplements to be removed from shelves and only purchased with an I.D., similar to certain allergy medications.

H.2341, An Act Relative to Out-of-Hospital Birth Access and Safety

This legislation creates a process for licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) overseen by a Board of Midwifery under the Department of Public Health. If passed, Massachusetts would join 35 other states that license CPMs.  This licensure bill will promote public health, increase access to maternity care, improve the safety of home birth, and save money. Senator Rebecca L. Rausch filed the companion bill, S.1332.

H.2481, An Act to Ensure Compliance with the Anti-Shackling Law for Pregnant Incarcerated Women

This legislation updates the original Anti-Shackling Law for pregnant incarcerated women to ensure compliance by requiring annual staff training; defining postpartum recovery as minimum of 6 weeks; authorizing medical personnel to determine that a woman is in labor; protecting patients in their care from restraint; and ensuring that instances of shackling are reported to the legislature and EOPSS. Senator Rebecca L. Rausch filed the companion bill, S.1453.

H.2974, An Act relative to mental health promotion through realistic advertising images

This bill is the first of its kind in the nation. It would provide an annual tax credit of up to $10,000 for cosmetic, personal care, and apparel companies that do not use digitally altered advertisements, which are defined in the bill as commercial images wherein a human model’s skin tone, skin texture including wrinkles, body size, or body shape are changed.  Our media environment is full of advertisements featuring human models who have been digitally altered to meet an impossible ideal. This has terrible effects on body image and mental health, especially for young people, and can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Some companies are pledging to stop harmful digital editing practices as part of their corporate social responsibility practices. This bill would accelerate this voluntary trend and ensure that companies have a reason to follow through on these pledges by offering a modest tax incentive for unaltered advertising.

Nursing

"I am extremely proud to be a nurse. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. I have worked for decades in the Massachusetts legislature to improve the recognition of nurses as a critical part of a team in the hospital and in the community." - Representative Kay Khan

An Act to Support Access, Value and Equity in Health Care (SAVE Act)

This bill removes the requirement that a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist must be supervised by a physician to write prescriptions and order tests and therapeutics. The supervisory requirement would be removed only after a two-year period of supervision of the psychiatric clinical nurse specialist by a physician, a nurse practitioner or a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in independent practice.

An Act Relative to the Governance of the Health Policy Commission

If passed, this legislation would add the critical perspectives of a registered nurse and a public health expert focused on eliminating healthcare disparities to the Commonwealth’s Health Policy Commission, the independent state agency that shapes policy and tracks cost-control measures across our public health and healthcare sectors. In February of 2019, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump appointed Barbara Blakeney, an experienced public health nurse, to the HPC. With this appointment, Auditor Bump took a critical step in recognizing the important perspective nurses in leadership can bring to our healthcare system. This bill will ensure that professional nurses have permanent representation on the HPC so that we can continue to benefit from their insights and contributions on improving health care in the Commonwealth. 

An Act to Remove Barriers to Practice for Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialists

This bill removes the requirement that a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist must be supervised by a physician to write prescriptions and order tests and therapeutics. The supervisory requirement would be removed only after a two-year period of supervision of the psychiatric clinical nurse specialist by a physician, a nurse practitioner or a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in independent practice.

An Act to Remove the Restrictions on the Licenses of CRNAs

This legislation would remove the mandate of physician supervision for the prescriptive practice and retrospective review of prescriptions already written for patients by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). It would also eliminate restrictive time limitations on issuing prescriptions for CRNAs.

H.3881, An Act to Increase Access to Nurse-Midwifery Services

This legislation requires insurers to pay nurse midwives the same as physicians for the same services. Nurse-Midwives are Advanced Practice Nurses. According to Massachusetts law and the Board of Registration in Nursing, they are also considered independent practitioners, and do not have to work under the supervision of physicians.  Making reimbursement more equitable will enable nurse-midwives to expand their services in many under-served areas of the state. 

H.2105, An Act Providing Signature Authority for Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialists

The legislation gives Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists the same authority that Nurse Practitioners currently have to sign certain patient health documents. Both Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Practitioners are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses according to Massachusetts law and the Board of Registration in Nursing. Signatory authority will help make patient care more efficient and accessible.

H.2336, An Act Creating a Nursing Advisory Board

This legislation would establish a Nursing Advisory Board which will create a neutral environment for discussion of issues facing the nursing workforce of Massachusetts, and serve as a think tank to produce research for long-term planning and strategic policy development in the nursing field. The 8 Board Members would represent all areas of nursing and the Board may seek public and private grant money to fund its research endeavors.​

H.2339, An Act Establishing a Commission on Quality Patient Outcomes and Professional Nursing Practice

This bill would establish a 17 member Commission on nurse staffing in hospitals located within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The Commission would review and make recommendations regarding best nurse staffing practices designed to improve the patient care environment, quality outcomes, and nurse satisfaction.

Transportation

I joined 45 of my legislative colleagues in the Central MA, MetroWest and Framingham/Worcester/Grand Junction Caucuses to submit a letter outlining comments on the National Environmental Policy Act Scoping Report for the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project. The letter formally expressed our concerns regarding the Project’s decade-long impact on commuters. With the significant existing congestion on the Mass Pike and with a 46% ridership increase between 2012-2018 on the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line that is currently constrained by a lack of parking and capacity during peak service, the impact of lane closures and the potential for reduction to a single track would be detrimental. We asked for actual mitigation commitments that can and will be acted upon to minimize the negative impacts to commuters, stressing that the effort to mitigate the transportation challenges of commuters must be done with equal commitment to the success of the overall project.

It addressed 5 key areas of concern and requests, including:

#1     Planning and Communication

• A full, detailed mitigation plan that encompasses all efforts should be developed with input from and review by the delegation and key stakeholders as soon as possible.

• Develop and implement a two-way communication channel with the Central MA and MetroWest delegation so that legislators are fully aware of project developments that impact their constituents.

• Accelerate the I-495/I-90 Interchange Project to reduce overlap with the Allston Multimodal Project in order to minimize the amount of time commuters are navigating massive construction projects and associated delays.

• Ensure that there are not simultaneous reductions in lanes on the Mass Pike and a reduction to a single rail track.

#2     Reduce Congestion/Travel Time

• Identify and enhance Park-and-Ride service on the Mass Pike.

• Provide bus and shuttle service on the Mass Pike.

• Engage the business community to offer flexible scheduling and work at home options.

• Incentivize public transportation and invest in real-time information sharing.

• Engage in scenario planning to determine which main, secondary and side roads in communities off the Mass Pike will be most impacted by drivers using apps such as Waze when traffic is congested.

• Accelerate programmed work and funding for raised platforms at train stations.

#3     Capacity to increase ridership on the Framingham/Worcester Line

• A minimum of 9-coach, double stack sets on all peak trains.

• Investigate feasibility of additional peak service.

• Expand parking at commuter rail stations.

#4     Reliability of Service on Framingham/Worcester Line

• Accelerate rolling stock and coach procurements and upgrades.

• Store a secondary train set to call into service in cases when primary sets malfunction on the line.

• Schedule for assessing and upgrading all signals and switches.

#5     Frequency

• Fund and complete new center high platform at Union Station.

• MBTA must work with municipalities to identify near-term solutions for at-grade crossings.

• Release the detailed feasibility study of the 3rd track between Framingham and Newton and in MetroWest.

These comments are based in the our fundamental belief that the massive and complex I-90 Allston Multimodal Project cannot be successfully planned or constructed unless a strategic review and mitigation plan is adopted and implemented that prioritizes, plans, and funds mitigation efforts that significantly lessen the impact the Project will have for a decade on the thousands of daily commuters from the regions west of Boston. The letter was addressed to Jeffrey McEwen, Division Administrator at the Federal Highway Administration, and Michael O’Dowd, Acting Director of the Bridge Project Management for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Construction for the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project, which involves replacing the viaduct, straightening of I-90 in Allston, building of West Station and making improvements to multimodal transportation, and is anticipated to begin in late 2022.  More information on the Project can be found at mass.gov.

Newton Commuter Rail Stations

For 15 years, Representative Khan has been committed to providing a handicapped accessible commuter rail station in Newton. Working with former Congressman Barney Frank, the Newton legislative delegation and the MBTA, federal funds were made available for a redesign of Auburndale Station. ​

The handicapped accessibility project initially considered only the Auburndale Commuter Rail Station; however, an MBTA feasibility study revealed that reconstructing all three commuter rail stations, (Auburndale, West Newton and Newton) is imperative. This is a vital development for the handicapped, young families with infants needing strollers and senior citizens.  

We look forward to having more conversations and meetings with community stakeholders, disability advocates, transit advocates, and elected officials, about the future commuter rail accessibility improvements in the City of Newton.

Riverside Development

Representative Khan is passionate about rebuilding the Riverside Trails Network. The Representative is working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and bike advocates including the Solomon Foundation on connecting bike and pedestrian trail infrastructure in Auburndale on both sides of the Charles River. MassDOT has committed to rebuilding the bridge across the Charles River at the Lasell Boathouse and we are considering options to open the tunnel underneath the commuter rail tracks, also in Auburndale. Updates will be forthcoming.

Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement

The Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement Project end its construction in December of 2020. The MBTA is delivering on its promise to “bring the Green Line track and signal systems into a state of good repair.” In order to replace about 6.5 miles of signal infrastructure and 25,000 feet of track, MBTA contractors will be working overnight on 100 feet of track at a time (from east to west) for the next two years. Special track work will take place on weekends and bus shuttles will replace train service.