Policy + Advocacy
Ending exploitation through survivor-led policy change.
At My Life My Choice, we believe no one should be bought or sold and that it will take collective action to end exploitation. We advocate for legislative change that codifies safety, rights, and resources for minor and adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation as well as for youth facing structural inequities which puts them at greater risk for exploitation.
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Ensuring Youth Can Thrive
Increasing safety and opportunity to ensure that youth are able to not only survive, but truly thrive must be a priority. We believe it is critical to pass legislation that interrupts systemic harm that youth face and that promotes safety, community, and education. In doing so, we are able to address the structural inequities that give rise to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
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Supporting Survivors
Opening more doors to recovery and safety is crucial as the trajectory of a survivor’s life post-trauma is specific to the individual. We are committed to ending all forms of power-based violence, as we know they are intricately linked, including sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and commercial sexual exploitation, by advocating for legislation that codifies survivors’ rights, support, and safety
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Changing Systems
In our work supporting young people pushed to the margins and involved in systems, we are committed to legislative reform that increases transparency and accountability from these systems to increase trauma-informed, tailored responses, ensuring equitable outcomes for all youth and all survivors.
Legislation We Support:
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HD.1683/SD.1116
Representative Keef & Representative Farley-BouvierThis legislation aims to improve justice, reduce barriers, and expand support for survivors of the sex trade and human trafficking. It focuses on four main goals: eliminating outdated criminal charges related to prostitution, expanding legal protections for trafficking survivors, ensuring records are cleared for those recognized as victims, and strengthening statewide services through coordinated planning.
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S.2659/ H.4646
Representatives Livingstone & Senator KennedyThis bill is focused on improving the child welfare system through better data reporting, stronger oversight by the Office of the Child Advocate, and increased coordination for youth served by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. The need for reform is highlighted by disparities and poor outcomes identified in the FY2023 Annual Report, including overrepresentation of children of color and many youth aging out of care without permanent connections. The bill aims to address these gaps by improving accountability, equity, and overall outcomes for children and transition-age youth.
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H.718 / HD2054
Representative Joshua TarskyStatus: The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Education, reported favorably, and is currently pending in the House Committee on Ways and Means.
This bill aims to limit the use of out-of-school suspensions and encourage schools to use alternatives that keep students in the classroom. The bill promotes in-school supports and discipline strategies instead of removing students from school. Its goal is to reduce missed learning time and help students stay engaged in their education.
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S.108
Senator Cynthia Stone Creem and Representative Amy Mah SangioloisThis bill that aims to protect juveniles during police questioning. It requires that a youth have an attorney present during custodial interrogations and that all interrogations be recorded. The goal is to prevent coercion, reduce false confessions, and ensure that any statements made by a youth are reliable and fairly obtained before being used in court.
We need our communities' help in getting these bills passed! Call members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and your state representative, tell them why these bills matter to young survivors, and ask that they report it out favorably.