Text of MA S 2425 (2023)

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2425 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ SENATE, July 24, 2023. The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification (Senate, No. 2207),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2425). For the committee, Michael J. Rodrigues 1 of 4 FILED ON: 7/24/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2425 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 13 of chapter 46 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 2 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof 3 the following subsection:- 4 (e) (1) A person who is over the age of 18 or who is an emancipated minor, or the parent 5 or guardian of a person who is a minor, may request a change in the sex designation on the 6 person’s birth record to a sex designation including, but not limited to, “female”, “male” or “X”. 7 An “X” designation may indicate that the person is another gender or an undesignated gender. A 8 request for a change in the sex designation on a birth record shall be accompanied by an affidavit 9 executed under the penalty of perjury by the person to whom the record relates, or by the parent 10 or guardian of the person if the person is a minor, attesting that the request is to conform to the 11 person’s gender identity and is not made for any fraudulent purpose; provided, however, that no 12 medical or healthcare related documentation, court order or proof of change of name shall be 13 required by a town clerk or other official in connection with a request under this paragraph. 2 of 4 14 (2) A person who is over the age of 18 or who is an emancipated minor, or the parent or 15 guardian of a person who is a minor, who requests a change in, or who has previously changed, 16 the sex designation on the person’s birth record pursuant to paragraph (1) may request a change 17 of name on the person’s birth record. A request for a change of name on a birth record shall be 18 accompanied by a certified copy of the legal change of name; provided, however, that no 19 medical or healthcare related documentation shall be required by a town clerk or other official in 20 connection with a request under this paragraph. 21 (3) A person who is over the age of 18 or who is an emancipated minor, or the parent or 22 guardian of a person who is a minor, who has changed the sex designation on the person’s birth 23 record pursuant to paragraph (1) but did not request a change of name on the person’s birth 24 record pursuant to paragraph (2) may request a change of name on the person’s birth record 25 within 3 years from the date of the change in the sex designation on the person’s birth record 26 pursuant to said paragraph (1); provided, however, that a person whose sex designation on their 27 birth record was changed while the person was a minor shall have 3 years from the date of their 28 eighteenth birthday to request a change of name on the person’s birth record. A request for a 29 change of name on a birth record shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the legal change of 30 name; provided, however, that no medical or healthcare related documentation shall be required 31 by a town clerk or other official in connection with a request under this paragraph. 32 (4) The department of public health may promulgate regulations to implement this 33 subsection. 34 SECTION 2. Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 35 section 8M the following section:- 3 of 4 36 Section 8N. The registry of motor vehicles shall permit a person submitting an 37 application under sections 8, 8B or 8E of this chapter or section 34B of chapter 138 to designate 38 “X”, “M” or “F” for gender on an application for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, 39 identification card or liquor purchase identification card. No documentation shall be required for 40 such a designation. 41 The registrar of motor vehicles shall report annually to the chairs of the joint committee 42 on transportation on the number of people, indicated by race and ethnicity, who choose an “X” 43 designation on their driver’s license, learner’s permit, identification card or liquor purchase 44 identification card; provided, however, that data included in the report shall be de-identified so 45 that the identification of an individual person cannot be ascertained. 46 The registrar of motor vehicles may promulgate regulations to implement this section. 47 SECTION 3. The secretary of administration and finance shall develop a plan, including 48 estimated costs and a proposed timeline for implementation, to ensure that any state form or 49 document issued by a state agency that requires an individual to indicate the individual’s gender 50 shall provide an opportunity for the individual to choose a gender option other than male or 51 female; provided, however, that the secretary shall ensure that such a form or document complies 52 with applicable federal rules and regulations. The secretary shall submit the plan to the clerks of 53 the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means 54 not later than January 1, 2025. 55 SECTION 4. Not later than 6 months after the effective date of this act, the registry of 56 motor vehicles, the state secretary and any state agency that interacts with youth or young adults 57 in their care or provides youth or young adults with legal assistance, including, but not limited to, 4 of 4 58 the department of children and families, the department of youth services, the department of 59 mental health and the committee for public counsel services, shall develop materials for 60 dissemination to inform youth and young adults of the options regarding sex and gender 61 designations on state forms and documents pursuant to this act and develop processes to assist 62 youth and young adults who wish to change their gender designation. 63 SECTION 5. Section 1 shall take effect on July 1, 2024.