Search Results for "MA-Massachusetts/town/capecod/Eastham"

MA Call to Action – End Child Marriage

Updated 11/7/2021 If passed, S937 (Senator Harriette Chandler) and H1709 (Representative Kay Khan), would End Child Marriage in Massachusetts. Please call your Representative and ask them to cosponsor and support the legislation to #EndChildMarriage. You may use the script below for some guidance. Please look up your Legislators at https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator Testifying to Committee Members Instructions to submit written or oral testimony to the Massachusetts Legislature when a hearing is scheduled Contacting Your Legislator Conducting a Successful Call Introduce yourself and what town you live in. The office will want to know your zip code to make sure you’re a constituent! If the Representative […]

Resolve Action Alert

S.2063 Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight On September 22, 2021, JPus managing member Loretta Jay testified (51:25) at the Massachusetts Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on S.2063, the Resolve to create a commission to evaluate the One Day Solemnizer rule. This hearing was in response to JPus’ members concerns, conveyed through JPus’ January 2019 white paper. JPus and the Town Clerk Association would be members of the Commission. Background: A summary of the problems with the One-Day Solemnizer rule and the Resolve’s legislative history is available. Action is needed now. To be successful we need Massachusetts […]

MA: 2019 Legislation

This page is not being updated. The following bills were submitted to the Massachusetts General Court in 2019: S 1831  establishes a commission study to evaluate the One-Day rule (Cyr) SD 941 increases application fees for 1-Dayers (Gobi) SD 943 broadens JP’s advertising to include in “any public media” (Gobi) S1833 increases the fees that JPs may charge to $120 in-town, and $180 for out-of-town ceremonies (DiDomenico). See JPus’ statement of support. Background: One-Day Rule: Senator Cyr’s bill, S 1831, is in response to JPus’ white paper outlining the problems with the One-Day rule. The bill would develop a committee to […]

Engaging MA Legislators: Oct. 1, 2019

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight On October 1, 2019, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on the Resolve to evaluate the One Day Solemnizer rule. This hearing was in response to JPus’ members concerns, conveyed through JPus’ January 2019 white paper. Senator Julian Cyr sponsored a Resolve to create a commission study on the One-Day Solemnizer rule. JPus and the Town Clerk Association would be members of the Commission. To be successful, JPs and town clerks will need to engage legislators. Call Committee Chairs and let them know you support the […]

November 2019 Letter in Support of MA S2294

The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in the state of Massachusetts. Related Links JPus’ End Child Marriage landing page Massachusetts-specific landing page for JPus’ efforts to end child marriage in the state Written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in Massachusetts was submitted on March 23, 2019, July 21, 2019 and November 20, 2019 (below). JPus’ Advocacy pages include efforts to end child marriage, respond to human trafficking, and preserve marriage equality. The organization also actively works to address the problems with lay officiants. November 20, 2019 testimony to the […]

MA Bill Improves Compensation – 2019

Regulating Fees During the spring 2019 legislative session, Massachusetts Senator Sal DiDomenico submitted a bill, S1833, to increase the fees that justices of the peace are allowed to charge to officiate a wedding – from $100 to $120 for in-town ceremonies, and $150 to $180 for out-of-town. As far as we know, the Commonwealth is the only state that restricts fees this way. Related Links JPus’ white paper about 1-Day solemnizers speaks to the implications of regulating JP’s fees S 1831 establishes a commission study to evaluate the One-Day rule Other JPus advocacy JPus Statement of Support JPus is not in […]

Holiday Networking Events

Make new connections and nurture opportunities! Get into the holiday spirit with your fellow JPs and town clerks. Save the date for our Holiday Networking Events: In Massachusetts: Wednesday December 12, 5-7:00pm at Bertucci’s in Waltham In Connecticut: Wednesday December 19, 5-7:00pm at Bertucci’s in Newington Getting together with our colleagues creates new opportunities and connections – and it’s fun! JPs, town clerks and other stakeholders are all invited to attend. Additional information will be announced soon.

March 2019 Letter in Support of MAS24

The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in the state of Massachusetts. Related Links JPus’ End Child Marriage landing page Massachusetts landing page for JPus efforts to end child marriage Written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in Massachusetts was submitted on March 23, 2019 (below) July 21, 2019 and November 20, 2019. JPus’ Advocacy pages include efforts to end child marriage, respond to human trafficking, and preserve marriage equality. The organization also actively works to address the problems with lay officiants. March 23, 2019 testimony to the […]

Child Marriage in MA

Pending Legislation Would End Child Marriage in Massachusetts Timed to coincide with Word Children’s Day, JPus submitted testimony to the Massachusetts House of Representatives voicing our support of S 2294, An Act to End Child Marriage. Read our testimony and follow the bill’s progression through the Senate and House. In addition, JPus encourages Massachusetts residents to contact their state Representatives. Every voice counts.

2019 MA Legislation

Four bills are pending before the Massachusetts General Court of the Commonwealth that are important to JPs. If you want changes to the One-Day rule, or would like an increase in the fees you may charge to couples, your state Representatives and Senators need to hear from you! SD2216: establishes a commission study to evaluate the One-Day rule SD 941 increases application fees for 1-Dayers (Gobi) SD 943 broadens JP’s advertising to include in “any public media” (Gobi) SD 659 increases the fees that JPs may charge to $120 in-town, and $180 for out-of-town ceremonies (DiDomenico). Read more about these […]

CT’s JP for a Day: What Happened

This is a blow-by-blow account of how the Justice of the Peace Association responded to proposed legislation in Connecticut, SB-396, JP for a Day, as reported by managing member, Loretta Jay.  SB-396 JP for a Day It was late on Friday, March 2nd, when Barbara Jay received an email from Betsy Moukawsher, Groton, Connecticut’s Town Clerk, warning that a bill was introduced to the current legislative session. SB-396 said very simply that the Secretary of the State could appoint justices of the peace “to perform a single joining of persons in marriage”. The bill, coined JP for a Day, was […]