Massachusetts Lawmakers to hold Hearings on Dozens of Bills

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers may have ended their formal sessions for the year, but they’re still holding hearings on bills that could come up for a vote in 2016 — the second half of their two-year session.

On Tuesday, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary will take testimony on nearly 70 bills. They include proposals to create a bill of rights for sexual assault victims, establish civil and criminal penalties for the female genital mutilation of minors and require immediate registration of sex offenders on the state’s registry.

Another bill would punish by up to five years in prison anyone who distributes pictures of another person nude or engaged in a sex act without their consent.

The committees on financial services and consumer protection also have hearings Tuesday at the Statehouse.