Rep. Tackey Chan

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to increase penalties for anyone who assaults a corrections officer or Department of Corrections staff member while they are working, specifically when the attack causes serious bodily injury. Under the new provisions, offenders face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of one year in state prison or up to two and a half years in a house of correction, along with a fine between $500 and $10,000. The legislation also restricts post-conviction relief by prohibiting suspended sentences, probation, parole, work release, furloughs, and good conduct time deductions until the mandatory minimum term is served. These changes apply strictly to cases resulting in serious bodily injury, defined as permanent disfigurement, significant loss of function, or substantial risk of death.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to prohibit fraudulent schemes where individuals or companies falsely promise employment in the entertainment industry in exchange for upfront fees. It directly affects talent agents, managers, scouts, and other industry professionals by making it illegal to advertise available jobs that require an advance payment or to accept any money except for legitimate commissions or reimbursed expenses. The legislation empowers the Attorney General to issue court injunctions to stop these practices without needing to prove that a specific person has already been harmed, and it allows victims to pursue legal remedies under existing consumer protection laws. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to establish rules for handling complaints and to publish safety guidelines and information about fraudulent entities to help the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals to sue public entities, such as cities and towns, in small claims court for car damage caused by potholes on public roads. Currently, Massachusetts law requires such claims to be filed in higher courts, which can be more expensive and time-consuming. By adding this exception, the legislation creates a simpler, lower-cost legal path for drivers seeking compensation for tire or rim damage resulting from road conditions. The change directly affects residents who encounter pothole-related vehicle damage and the public entities responsible for maintaining local roadways.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the maximum fine for parents or guardians whose children are excessively tardy or absent from school. Currently, Massachusetts law allows a penalty of up to twenty dollars per day of non-attendance, but this legislation would raise that limit to fifty dollars per day. The change directly affects families with school-aged children and school districts that enforce attendance policies. By amending Chapter 76 of the General Laws, the bill aims to impose a higher financial cost on repeated instances of student truancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to help survivors of abuse, human trafficking, and involuntary sexual relations by allowing them to have certain criminal records expunged or sealed. It directly affects individuals who have been victims of these crimes and later faced legal charges related to their victimization. The law creates a specific category for offenses resulting from such victimization and establishes a rebuttable presumption that a defendant's actions were due to their trauma, though official documentation is not strictly required to apply. Judges will be able to consider credible evidence and testimony when deciding on petitions for relief, and the bill also adds a prohibition against making sealed or expunged records available for inspection.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts laws regarding drug driving by allowing law enforcement to require chemical tests, including those administered by certified Drug Recognition Experts, when arresting drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The legislation clarifies that individuals with specific medical conditions, such as hemophilia or diabetes requiring anticoagulants, cannot be forced to provide a blood sample, and it mandates that blood tests only occur at licensed medical facilities. Penalties for refusing these tests are adjusted based on the driver's age and prior offenses, ranging from a 180-day suspension for first-time adult offenders to immediate three-year, five-year, or lifetime suspensions for repeat offenders or those under 21. Additionally, the bill formally recognizes Drug Recognition Experts as certified professionals within the state's judicial and municipal court systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that the Department of Correction and local sheriffs provide free voice telephone services to all inmates in Massachusetts correctional facilities, including jails and mental health units. The law requires these communication services to be available at all times, provided they do not disrupt educational programs or daily facility operations. Additionally, the bill ensures that both the incarcerated person and the recipient of the call incur no charges for these calls for a period of 90 days following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts sex offender registration laws to require individuals to report not just their physical addresses but also their online identities, including email addresses, website registrations, and messaging aliases. It directly affects registered sex offenders by mandating that they notify authorities of any changes to these digital identifiers and listing them on public records alongside their names. The legislation amends multiple sections of the state's General Laws to ensure that online contact information is consistently included in registration requirements and penalty notices for non-compliance. By expanding the definition of required information to include electronic aliases, the bill aims to modernize the registry for the digital age while maintaining the existing framework for tracking and reporting offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for crimes committed against banks and credit unions while also clarifying where such cases can be tried. It mandates that anyone robbing a bank or credit union while armed with a weapon or disguised faces a minimum of five years in state prison, with subsequent offenses carrying a minimum of fifteen years. Additionally, the law increases the minimum sentence for non-armed bank robberies from thirty months to life imprisonment or any term of years. The legislation also expands the locations where these cases can be prosecuted to include the courts where the crime occurred or where the bank's main office is located.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to strengthen protections for victims of hate crimes by expanding the definition of harassment and increasing penalties for assaults motivated by bias. It directly affects individuals targeted for violence or intimidation based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The legislation redefines harassment to include three or more malicious acts intended to cause fear or damage, while also incorporating specific existing offenses into the harassment definition. Additionally, it raises the maximum penalty for hate-motivated assault or battery to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to two and a half years. These changes aim to provide clearer legal tools for restraining orders and harsher consequences for perpetrators of hate-based violence.