Rep. David DeCoste

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent commission to examine and set service standards for organizations that help victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in Massachusetts. The commission will consist of 19 members, including government officials, advocates from various support centers, and survivors of these crimes, who will serve unpaid terms of two years. Its main task is to review current practices across the state and develop uniform minimum standards for how these service providers operate. The group will hold public meetings, gather information, and make recommendations to improve support for survivors, while its own rules and staffing will depend on future funding approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent commission to develop and enforce uniform minimum standards for organizations providing services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence across Massachusetts. The commission will consist of 19 members representing government agencies, advocacy groups, and survivors, who will meet regularly to review current practices and propose consistent service guidelines. While the commission itself has no power to enforce rules, it will study existing programs and make recommendations to state agencies and local communities to improve care for victims. The members serve unpaid terms of two years and are responsible for ensuring that support services meet high, consistent quality levels throughout the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of "public employee" in Massachusetts to include referees, umpires, and other officials working at school sports events. By registering with relevant sports organizations, these individuals would receive enhanced penalties if they are assaulted or battered while performing their duties. The change applies to volunteers, independent contractors, and paid staff alike, ensuring that anyone officiating a school game is covered under existing protection laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers and employees from using nondisclosure agreements to hide facts about sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace. It makes such clauses in settlement agreements legally unenforceable, while still allowing victims to keep their own identities private if they choose. The law also ensures that victims can sue for damages with a jury trial and receive attorney fees if they win, and it bars the use of public funds to settle these specific claims against government employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new crime of capital murder in Massachusetts specifically for the intentional killing of law enforcement officers, including correction officers, police, sheriffs, and deputy sheriffs. It applies to adults who kill these officers while they are working or as retaliation for their work, or whose deaths result from reckless violent acts. If convicted, the offender would face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The legislation also establishes a mandatory pre-sentence hearing where a jury reviews aggravating and mitigating factors to determine the final punishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to create new criminal penalties for anyone who knowingly helps a child run away from their parents or legal guardians. It specifically defines "entice" as actions like luring, persuading, or soliciting a child to leave their care. The law imposes stricter punishments based on the child's age and the circumstances, such as whether the child is fleeing from foster care or living within 300 feet of a school. Under the new rules, aiding a child under 14 to run away from a parent can result in up to five years in state prison, while helping a child escape from foster care or a court order can lead to up to ten years in state prison.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law specifically addressing crimes against unborn children, defining them as victims separate from the pregnant woman. It establishes new criminal offenses, including first and second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and assault, specifically for acts that cause death or injury to a fetus or unborn child. The legislation sets out specific penalties for these crimes, such as life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder, and defines key terms like "unborn child" as life from conception until death.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows mothers in Massachusetts to petition a court to terminate the parental rights of a man who fathered their child through rape. It applies to both married women seeking to end their husband's rights and unmarried mothers seeking to end the rights of a stranger who committed the assault. The law establishes that a criminal conviction or guilty plea for rape serves as automatic proof that the child was conceived through sexual violence, removing the need for the mother to prove the crime in a separate civil case. Additionally, the bill creates a legal presumption that ending the perpetrator's parental rights is in the child's best interest. These changes would enable victims to seek adoption or other permanent solutions without facing the burden of re-litigating the original criminal case.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to protect private property owners by restricting the government's ability to use eminent domain for commercial projects or private economic development. It mandates that property takings must be for genuine public use, such as public occupancy, and requires courts to independently decide if a proposed use is truly public rather than accepting a legislative claim. Additionally, the legislation includes a provision that if the government does not use the taken property for its intended purpose within five years, it must offer to sell the land back to the original owner or their heirs at the lower of the original purchase price or the fair market value at the time of taking.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts laws regarding violent crimes committed by individuals under the age of eighteen, specifically addressing murder charges. It allows prosecutors to file murder cases against juveniles in adult court through an indictment rather than only in juvenile court. Additionally, the legislation sets specific minimum prison terms for minors convicted of first-degree murder, requiring a minimum of 35 years before parole eligibility, and adjusts sentencing guidelines for other violent offenses. These changes directly affect the legal process and potential sentences for minors accused of serious violent crimes.