This bill allows prosecutors to file charges for certain rape offenses even if the standard time limit for filing has passed. It applies specifically to cases where the suspect's identity was discovered after the deadline using DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. The law requires that DNA evidence kits be kept for at least 15 years to support these potential future prosecutions. This change directly affects how sexual assault cases are handled when new DNA technology or records help identify suspects long after the original crime.
Senate, December 21, 2023 -- The committee on Elder Affairs, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 372) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to direct the administration to amend the frail elder home and community-based waiver to permit eligible older adults to choose to reside in certified assisted living residences; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 374) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Thomas M. Stanley, Jason M. Lewis, Susannah M. Whipps and others for legislation to authorize common sense health services in assisted living; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3927) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian relative to assisted living facilities, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2527).
March , 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 251) of Brendan P. Crighton, Michael J. Barrett and Peter Capano for legislation to modernize school construction; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 278) of Barry R. Finegold, Adam Scanlon and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish a special commission to study the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 295) of John F. Keenan for legislation to create a facilities loan program for private special education schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 309) of Jason M. Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch and Kate Lipper-Garabedian for legislation to establish a special commission to review the adequacy and equity of the Massachusetts school building program; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 331) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to provide school building assistance for Special Education Collaboratives; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 359) of John C. Velis for legislation relative to school districts in receivership and the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 431) of Bruce J. Ayers relative to technology upgrade programs for public schools; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 441) of Daniel Cahill relative to school construction; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 553) of Edward R. Philips relative to the feasibility of ergonomically designed school buildings and its beneficial impact on students and faculty; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 568) of Adam Scanlon, Barry R. Finegold and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 569) of Adam Scanlon, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to providing for school building assistance for special education collaboratives; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 606) of Marcus S. Vaughn and Ryan C. Fattman relative to School Building Advisory Board funding, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2659).
Senate, June 17, 2024 -- The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2015) of John F. Keenan for legislation relative to Massachusetts time zones, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2823).
Senate, July 1, 2024 -- The committee on The Judiciary, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 936) of Cynthia Stone Creem and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to expunge juvenile and young adult records; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 980) of Cindy F. Friedman, John J. Cronin, Hannah Kane, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide critical community services; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1000) of Adam Gomez for legislation to clarify the child advocate’s authority to access juvenile records; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1069) of Michael O. Moore for legislation to extend the civil statute of limitations for child abuse; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1108) of Rebecca L. Rausch and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to prohibit body size discrimination, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2851).
Senate, July 1, 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 246) of Joanne M. Comerford, Liz Miranda, Adam Gomez, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to empower students and schools to thrive; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 267) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to fulfill the promise of education reform; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 293) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation relative to student assessment data; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 307) of Jason M. Lewis and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to establish a Special Commission to Re-Imagine School Assessment and Accountability; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 339) of Jacob R. Oliveira and Patricia A. Duffy for legislation to further regulate receivership of school districts designated as chronically underperforming; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 349) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation to create a grant program on alternative assessment models, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2841).
Senate, June 17, 2024 -- The committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1283) of Cynthia Stone Creem (by vote of the town) for legislation to exempt the town of Brookline from in-person quorums; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1311) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to updating animal health inspections; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2467) of Julian Cyr and Dylan A. Fernandes (by vote of the town) for legislation to change the name and membership of the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2828).
Senate, July 3, 2024 -- The committee on Transportation, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2230) of Sal N. DiDomenico and Michael J. Barrett for legislation relative to class 3 electric bicycles; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2277) of Susan L. Moran, Joanne M. Comerford, Jack Patrick Lewis, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to increase regional transit accessibility in the Commonwealth, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2852).
Senate, July 1, 2024 -- The committee on Health Care Financing, to whom was referred the Senate Bills to creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental Health (Senate, No. 1268); and to non-opioid alternatives in pain treatment (Senate, No. 2786) relative to non-opioid alternatives in pain treatment report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2842).
This bill directs the Health Care Financing committee to conduct a study on breast cancer, nutrition, access to medicine, and other health care financing issues. The committee is authorized to review a specific list of related documents and must submit its findings and any proposed legislation by December 31, 2024. This measure does not change laws immediately but sets up an official investigation to inform future policy decisions.
This bill directs the House committee on Revenue to investigate a specific set of documents concerning employer taxes and local revenue options. The committee must review these materials and submit a report with any recommendations or draft laws by December 31, 2024. This action is a procedural study order that does not change tax laws itself but prepares the groundwork for future legislation.
This bill directs the committee on Revenue to investigate a proposal regarding a property tax freeze for seniors. The committee is authorized to study the details of this proposal and submit a report with any recommendations or draft laws by December 31, 2024. This measure is a procedural step that does not change tax laws itself but initiates a review of a potential policy affecting elderly homeowners.
