Rep. Kim Ferguson

Maddy summaryHD 1299 amends Massachusetts guardianship law to strengthen protections for people under guardianship. It requires courts to notify individuals of their right to legal representation and to attend hearings in person (Section 304(e)). The bill also mandates that new guardians must be certified by the Center for Guardianship Commission within six months (Section 305) and holds guardians accountable for expenses charged to the incapacitated person’s estate (Section 309). These changes directly affect individuals deemed incapacitated, their legal representatives, and appointed guardians.

Maddy summaryHD 1321 establishes a 14-member commission to study the annual costs of providing court-appointed lawyers for sex offender classification hearings in Massachusetts. The commission includes members from key legislative committees, the attorney general, the chief justice, and the governor, with specific appointment rules. It will measure these costs and submit a report - including potential legislation or regulations - to the joint committee on transportation within one year. This bill does not change existing law but aims to gather data to inform future budgeting decisions related to these hearings.

Maddy summaryHD 1301 prohibits installing or using location-tracking devices in motor vehicles without the consent of the driver and all passengers. Exceptions include law enforcement using devices during investigations under legal protocols, parents monitoring minor children in vehicles they own, businesses tracking their own company vehicles, and recovering stolen vehicles with police notice. The law defines "electronic mobile tracking devices" as tools that reveal location via phone or computer. It explicitly excludes manufacturer-installed systems, rental company tracking with permission, and insurance company monitoring with consent. Violations are punishable under existing criminal harassment laws.

Maddy summaryHD 1309 (An Act to ban phishing) makes it a crime to impersonate a legitimate business via email, web pages, or online services with intent to steal payment details or personal information. It directly affects individuals or groups committing phishing scams, imposing penalties of up to $5,000 fines, 2.5 years in jail, or both. The law defines key terms like "electronic mail message" and targets unauthorized attempts to obtain sensitive data through deceptive digital communications. This bill creates new criminal liability for specific phishing tactics under Massachusetts law (adding Section 37F to Chapter 266).

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the Board of Probation to inform enrolled victims about specific sex offender details upon request. Victims who have joined the Board's victim services unit will receive the offender's final classification and addresses (home, secondary, work, and school). The provision directly affects victims who are enrolled in the services unit, adding a specific notification requirement to existing processes. It does not change offender classification standards or create new penalties, only clarifying victim notification procedures.

Maddy summaryHD 1302 raises the standard of proof in civil asset forfeiture cases from "probable cause" to "beyond a reasonable doubt" for the state to seize property, making it harder to forfeit assets. It creates a Special Public Attorney and Drug Rehabilitation Trust Fund, funded by forfeiture proceeds, to provide free legal defense for low-income individuals and support drug treatment, mental health services, and prevention programs. The bill also requires law enforcement to file court complaints within a set timeframe for property seizures of $3,000 or more and mandates a stay in civil forfeiture cases until related criminal cases are resolved. Additionally, it requires annual public reports detailing the fund's finances, expenditures, and outcomes from funded programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits level 3 sex offenders from living together in any single-family or multi-family dwelling, unless they are legally related by blood, marriage, or adoption. It directly affects individuals classified as level 3 sex offenders under Massachusetts law who wish to share housing. Violating this rule results in a $1,000 fine, up to 2.5 years in jail, or both, with the violation reported to the sex offender registry board. The law aims to restrict co-residency among high-risk offenders while allowing exceptions for close family relationships.

Maddy summaryHD 1304 amends a law that generally prohibits secret recordings (like hidden cameras) by adding a self-defense exception. It allows private individuals to secretly record an encounter if they are directly involved in the situation, are not working for law enforcement, and have a reasonable fear of physical harm. This exception directly affects people in potentially threatening scenarios who wish to document events for their own safety. The law does not apply to police or their agents, who remain subject to the general prohibition on secret recordings. The bill clarifies that secret recordings for self-defense are permitted under these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHD 1334 removes state-funded legal representation for indigent individuals in sex offender classification hearings. The bill amends Chapter 6, Section 178L of the General Laws to eliminate provisions requiring the board or court to appoint counsel for those deemed indigent under Chapter 211D standards. It replaces language guaranteeing "the right to have counsel appointed" with only the right to "retain counsel," meaning offenders must pay for their own attorney. This directly affects low-income individuals facing administrative sex offender classification decisions. The change removes both the obligation to provide state-appointed counsel and the requirement to inform offenders of this right.

Maddy summaryHD 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.