Legislative Clinics Hold Mock Hearing at the Massachusetts State House

Six students participated in the hearing before a committee of legislators and senior staff members.

Every semester, the students in the Legislative Policy & Drafting Clinic and the Legislative Externship Program, under the supervision of Clinical Associate Professor of Law Sean Kealy, participate in a mock hearing at the Massachusetts State House. The committee that heard the student testimony was composed of a legislator, who served as the chair, and senior staff members from the State House of Representatives and Senate. The students testify on a bill and answers questions from the committee. This allows the students to hone their oral advocacy skills while defending their bill. The process often reveals weaknesses in, or raises questions about, a proposal, which the students then work to resolve for the balance of the semester.

On November 13, students testified on the following subjects:

1. An Act Addressing Corporate Tax Haven Abuse and a Resolve to Petition Congress to Amend the Federal Tax Code to Close Offshore Tax-Haven Loopholes, Deborah Hinck (’17)
2. An Act Relative to Protecting the Commonwealth’s Elders and Disabled Citizens, Tyler Spunaugle (’16)
3. Legislation to Expunge the Records of Persons Falsely Accused and Juveniles, Sonam Bhagat (’17)
4. An Act to Improve Training for Unemployed Citizens of the Commonwealth, Jeffrey Butensky (’17)
5. An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control and Protecting the Health of Minors, Dina Nathanson (’16)
6. Act to Protect Children and Families from Harmful Flame Retardants, Lillian Feinberg (’17)

The committee chair this semester was the newest member of the Massachusetts Senate, Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton). Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Brady served for six years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Members of the committee:

• Catherine Anderson, legislative director for Asst. Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem
• Julia Lucivero, chief of staff, Joint Committee on Children & Families
• Lizzy Driscoll, research analyst, Joint Committee on Children & Families
• Kevin Larivee, chief counsel, Joint Committee on Revenue
• David Swanson, legal counsel, Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies
• Lisa Sears, policy counsel for Asst. Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem
• Andrea Milyko, staff attorney for Asst. Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem

During a break in the testimony, Senator Brady talked about his recent election to the Senate, his hometown of Brockton, the challenges of representing new towns and constituents, his close relationship to his predecessor (the recently deceased Senator Thomas Kennedy), and the importance of public service.