This bill requires law enforcement to notify victims when harassment prevention orders (for stalking or harassment) are served, not served, or expire. It directly affects victims of stalking who have these court orders by ensuring they receive timely updates about the order's status. Key provisions mandate that police inform victims within 12 hours if an order isn't served, then every 24 hours until service is complete, and also notify them if the order expires. The law applies to both temporary and permanent orders under Chapters 209A and 258E of Massachusetts law.
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2000) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to statewide standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers. The Judiciary.
S 1145, introduced by Senator Robyn Kennedy, proposes a legal definition for the term "strangulation" in Massachusetts law. This bill would directly affect criminal cases involving assault or domestic violence by establishing a clear standard for what constitutes strangulation in court proceedings. The legislation aims to standardize legal interpretation without changing existing penalties or sentencing guidelines. It is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee.
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1154) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to visitation and family court matters in domestic violence cases. The Judiciary.
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1999) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida for legislation to establish a permanent commission (including members of the General Court) to study the service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers. The Judiciary.
HD 1348, titled "An Act protecting children from domestic violence," increases penalties for assault committed within a dwelling in the presence of a child under 16. It makes such acts punishable by up to 5 years in state prison, 2.5 years in house of correction, or a $5,000 fine. The bill also requires law enforcement filing charges to notify the Department of Social Services, which may use the information at its discretion. This directly affects children under 16 exposed to domestic violence in homes and holds perpetrators to stricter standards.
This bill creates a separate criminal offense for causing death or bodily injury to a fetus (defined as "child in utero" at any developmental stage) through acts that would otherwise violate laws like assault. It directly affects individuals whose criminal conduct results in fetal harm, such as in cases of domestic violence or accidents. The key mechanism sets the punishment for this offense equal to what would apply if the injury occurred to the pregnant person, and it explicitly excludes prosecution for legal abortions, medical treatments for the pregnant person or fetus, or actions taken by the pregnant person themselves. The law clarifies that intent to harm the fetus or knowledge of pregnancy is not required for prosecution.
This bill (HD 3083) requires law enforcement agencies to notify victims when harassment prevention orders (like stalking protection orders) are served, not served within 12 hours (and every 24 hours after), or expire. It directly affects victims of harassment who have court-issued protection orders. The key mechanism mandates specific, timely notifications to victims about the status and validity of their orders. This amendment applies to orders under Chapter 209A (abuse prevention) and Chapter 258E (harassment prevention) of Massachusetts law.
This bill amends name change procedures in court to prioritize safety for vulnerable individuals. It requires courts to obtain a probation report before approving name changes and verify birth records (with limited exceptions). Crucially, courts must keep name change records private if a safety risk exists - such as gender non-conformity, being transgender, or being a domestic violence survivor - without requiring proof of prior threats. This protects petitioners' privacy by segregating their records and creating a separate court index for such cases.
This bill adds "status as a victim of abusive behavior" to Massachusetts' anti-discrimination protections in employment. It directly affects employees and job applicants experiencing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or kidnapping (as defined in the bill), requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations like schedule changes, safety modifications, or workplace access adjustments. Employers must engage in a good-faith interactive process to find suitable accommodations and cannot discriminate against someone who requests them. The law also mandates written notice of these rights to all employees and new hires, and requires the state commission to develop educational materials about these protections within 180 days.
