Rep. Pat Haddad

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to specifically protect sports officials, such as referees and umpires, from physical attacks. It establishes that anyone who assaults an official before, during, or immediately after a game faces fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 or imprisonment for 90 days to two and a half years. Additionally, the legislation makes it a crime to force an official to stay on the field after a contest has ended, punishable by a fine up to $200 or up to 30 days in jail. These measures apply to paid and volunteer officials working in interscholastic, intercollegiate, amateur, and professional athletic events.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce mass incarceration by expanding parole eligibility for certain prisoners currently serving life sentences in Massachusetts. It removes specific exclusions that previously barred individuals with multiple life sentences or those convicted of first-degree murder as minors from applying for parole. Under the new rules, prisoners serving multiple life sentences would become eligible for parole 25 years after their most recent conviction began, and courts would be required to set a minimum prison term of 25 years for first-degree murder cases. Additionally, the legislation adjusts the minimum parole term for juveniles who commit murder before their 18th birthday, ensuring they are not automatically excluded from future parole consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense specifically for willfully threatening serious bodily injury to sports officials during a game. It applies to any person who directs such threats at referees, umpires, or other officials acting in their official capacity at events ranging from school sports to professional leagues. If convicted of a first offense, an individual could face up to two and a half years in jail or a fine of $1,000, while a second or subsequent offense carries a mandatory prison sentence of five to ten years. The law defines a sports official broadly to include paid and volunteer roles in any organized athletic activity and requires the threat to cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill creates new criminal penalties for assaulting sports officials, such as referees, during or immediately around organized athletic events. It establishes a misdemeanor charge for simple assaults and elevates the offense to a felony if the attack causes bodily injury requiring medical care or serious impairment of a body function. The legislation also mandates that venues hosting sporting events post signs warning against assaulting officials and requires them to provide escorts to officials upon request. Violations of these facility requirements can result in a civil fine of up to $500.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires covered employers in Massachusetts to submit detailed wage data reports alongside their existing annual reports to the state secretary. The state secretary will then compile this information and publish aggregate wage statistics on the executive office of labor and workforce development website, organized by industry and released annually by June 1. While the bill mandates the collection and public release of these aggregate statistics, it explicitly excludes the individual wage data reports from being considered public records, thereby protecting specific employer information from public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's Division of Developmental Services to cover medically necessary habilitative and rehabilitative treatments for adults aged 21 and older with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder. The legislation specifically mandates coverage for applied behavior analysis and various augmentative and alternative communication devices, such as tablets, when deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician or psychologist. By expanding these insurance benefits, the bill aims to ensure that individuals with these conditions have access to essential care that helps develop, maintain, or restore their functioning.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape cases indefinitely if DNA evidence matches the suspect. It directly affects victims of rape who may wish to pursue legal action years after the crime occurred, even if the standard 15-year time limit has passed. The key mechanism requires that a DNA match between the victim and the accused must be established before the prosecution timeline is removed. This change aims to provide more opportunities for justice in cases where DNA evidence becomes available long after the incident.

By Representative Haddad of Somerset, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Patricia A. Haddad that the Teachers’ Retirement System be directed to credit Wendy Lopriore, a member of said system, with creditable service for service rendered at Bristol Community College. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Massachusetts public high schools to include hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillator training in their health or physical education curricula for grades 9 through 12. The law mandates that every student participate in this instruction as a graduation requirement, though students with a physician's note or a parent's written objection may be exempted. School districts must choose a free training program modeled after guidelines from a nationally recognized CPR organization and ensure it includes hands-on practice for each student. The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2025.