Rep. Susan Gifford

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to increase penalties for assault or assault and battery committed inside a home when a child under 16 is present. It directly affects individuals charged with domestic violence by establishing a specific sentencing range of up to five years in state prison or two and a half years in the house of correction, along with a potential fine of $5,000. Additionally, the legislation requires law enforcement agencies to notify the Department of Social Services whenever such charges are filed. This change aims to provide stricter consequences for domestic violence incidents that occur in the presence of young children.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits registered level 2 and level 3 sex offenders from loitering within 500 feet of designated school bus stops in Massachusetts. The law defines loitering as staying in the restricted area for more than 15 minutes, with an exception allowing parents or legal guardians to remain longer until their child arrives or departs. Violators face escalating penalties, including fines and potential jail time, with each offense requiring notification to the sex offender registry board.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement to warn individuals who transport or accompany an arrested drunk driver about the legal risks of letting them drive again. It mandates that these transporters sign a written acknowledgment of the warning, while exempting medical professionals from this requirement. Additionally, the law sets a minimum 12-hour impound period for vehicles driven by intoxicated arrestees and outlines the documentation needed to retrieve them.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to exempt individuals who are the sole owners of a business from jury duty if serving would force them to close their business. The change directly affects sole proprietors by adding a specific condition under which they can be excused from service. By including this new provision, the legislation ensures that the financial survival of a sole-owned business is considered when determining juror eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to create stricter penalties for parents or guardians who fail to report a child under 14 as missing or deceased. It requires anyone caring for a child to notify law enforcement within two hours of discovering the child's death or within five days of finding the child missing, but only if the caregiver intends to mislead officials, stop an investigation, or causes an investigation to be delayed. The legislation increases the maximum prison sentence for these specific failures from two and a half years to ten years in state prison. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum penalties for other related offenses under existing child protection laws, increasing sentences from two and a half years to ten years and from five years to fifteen years.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens protections for vulnerable individuals in Massachusetts by updating the rules for guardianship proceedings. It requires that notices sent to those potentially under guardianship inform them of their right to legal representation and their ability to attend hearings in person. The law also mandates that appointed guardians be certified by a specific commission within six months of their appointment. Additionally, the bill clarifies that guardians must disclose and pay for their own professional fees and related expenses from their own funds rather than charging them to the incapacitated person's estate. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability in the guardianship system while ensuring affected individuals have access to legal support.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Massachusetts Board of Parole to provide specific information about registered sex offenders directly to victims who have enrolled in victim services. Under the new provision, victims would receive details including the offender's final classification, home address, secondary address, work address, and school location upon request. The change aims to give victims clearer access to data about where offenders live and work, allowing them to better assess safety risks. It applies specifically to the state's sex offender registry system and the victim services unit within the board.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes mandatory post-release supervision for individuals released from incarceration in Massachusetts, requiring them to serve a period of oversight after their prison or jail term ends. The supervision period is calculated as 25 percent of the maximum sentence imposed, with a minimum of nine months, and is administered by either the parole board or the office of the commissioner of probation depending on the length of the original sentence. Key provisions include exemptions for those who successfully complete probation or parole, rules for calculating the supervision term for multiple offenses, and a pathway for early termination after nine months if the individual meets specific criteria such as securing employment and housing. The legislation also directs state officials to create uniform regulations for supervision and sets joint standards for early release based on factors like treatment completion and testing results.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of online enticement under Massachusetts law to include a broader range of communication methods. It directly affects individuals who might attempt to lure children by updating the statute to explicitly cover personal contact, postal mail, telephone calls, instant messaging, and email. The key mechanism is an amendment to an existing section of the General Laws that lists these specific ways someone can invite a child to meet them. By adding these methods to the legal definition, the bill ensures that various forms of digital and traditional communication are treated as potential tools for enticement. This change aims to close potential gaps in how the law currently addresses the solicitation of minors online.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend Massachusetts law to require that private or commercial eminent domain takings award property owners at least 200% of the fair market value. It directly affects individuals and businesses whose land is taken by the government for private development projects. The key provision mandates a minimum payment standard that is double the current fair market value calculation for these specific types of takings. This change would apply immediately upon the bill's passage and would alter the compensation requirements for future eminent domain cases involving private investment.