With the record date-rape druggings in Massachusetts venues and college campuses this past year, we support state-wide legislation proposed by Senator Paul Feeney in Bill SD.2411 that creates the following:

• Hospital protocols. Anyone who enters a hospital and claims they have been a victim of involuntary consumption of a drug commonly used for facilitated sexual assault will be allowed to give a urine and/or blood sample for drug testing, regardless of whether they were sexually assaulted. In addition, they will also receive information about counseling resources for all traumas surrounding this crime and will be asked if they want to report the crime to police.

We also support Senator Feeney amending this proposed legislation to include:

• Police protocols. Whenever anyone calls to report involuntary consumption of a drug substance commonly used for facilitated sexual assault, they will be asked a series of questions and the alleged crime will be recorded and investigated, regardless of whether they were sexually assaulted. The police will also give them information about counseling resources for all traumas surrounding this crime. In addition, a requirement would call for at least one unit from every police department to be trained in standardized victim care related to victims of date rape drugging.
• Venue protocols, accountability, and consequences for venues that don’t immediately report this crime. Venues that are told by patrons that they believe they have been drugged while they are still on the venue’s premises will be required to offer immediate assistance so that patron can get medical help. In addition, the venue will be required to report the incident to police and the licensing board. Failure by a venue to report an alleged involuntary drugging that they have been made aware of will result in fines that begin at $5,000 for a first offense.

While there is much more to do to prevent this crime and assist victims, this is a start. We, as victims of involuntary druggings, ask you to please sign this petition and share the link with your colleagues, friends, and family so that we can begin – together – to make our community safer, one step at a time.

To learn more about Bill SD. 2411, go here.

Want to do more? We encourage you to reach out to MA Elected Officials by email or phone and encourage them to support legislation to fight these crimes from continuing on in our state - every voice is impactful to pushing this issue forward!

• Contact Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell's office.
• Send an email to Governor Maura Healey's office
• Let Mayor Michelle Wu's office know.
• Send a note to Director of Nightlife Economy for Boston, Corean Reynolds, with the office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion.