Rep. Ken Sweezey

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 4197) provides financial support for disabled first responders in Massachusetts. It allows firefighters, police officers, EMTs, correction officers, and other public safety workers who can no longer perform essential job duties due to accidental disability to earn up to half their retirement allowance while working part-time. Crucially, recipients cannot work for government entities (state, county, city, or town) while receiving these benefits, but they may work in the private sector without penalty. The law also clarifies that recipients can still receive other retirement benefits not covered by this provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a law that generally restricts hunting mammals on Sundays. It adds an exception specifically for deer hunting during officially designated open deer hunting seasons. The change directly affects deer hunters who can now legally hunt deer on Sundays when the season is open. This is a straightforward policy adjustment to the existing hunting regulations, clarifying that deer hunting during season is permitted on Sundays. The bill does not change the season dates or general hunting rules, only the Sunday restriction for deer.

Maddy summaryHD 733 establishes a Retired Police Dog Care Fund within Massachusetts' executive office of public safety. The fund, administered by the Secretary of Public Safety, receives state appropriations, grants, gifts, and investment income, with unspent balances carrying over annually. It provides grants to nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts to cover medical and care expenses for retired police dogs, as defined in existing law. The Secretary must annually report fund activity, including funding sources and expenditures, to relevant state committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the intersection of Congress Street and Washington Street (Route 53/14, northwest corner at 749 Washington Street) in Pembroke as "Lavina A. Hatch Corner." It honors Lavina A. Hatch, a founding member and secretary of the National Woman Suffrage Association of Massachusetts, for her advocacy work in the late 19th century. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain official markers bearing this designation. The bill is purely commemorative with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for assaulting corrections officers and Department of Corrections staff while they're performing their duties. It mandates a minimum 1-year prison sentence (not less than 1 year) for anyone causing serious bodily injury to these workers through assault, with fines ranging from $500 to $10,000. The law prohibits probation, parole, sentence reductions, or early release until the mandatory minimum term is served, and defines "serious bodily injury" as permanent disfigurement, loss of bodily function, or substantial risk of death. The bill directly affects corrections officers (who gain enhanced legal protection) and individuals convicted of such assaults (who face stricter sentencing).

Maddy summaryHD 465 (Halo Act) protects first responders by making it illegal to interfere with their work during emergencies. The bill defines "first responder" broadly to include police, firefighters, EMTs (paid, volunteer, or reserve), and others providing emergency assistance. It prohibits approaching within 25 feet of a first responder after they've given a verbal warning not to approach, if the person intends to impede their duties, threaten them, or cause distress. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 for the first offense and up to $5,000 or one year in jail for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify who qualifies as a certified emergency telecommunicator. It adds specific job titles - full-time dispatchers, dispatch supervisors, communications center directors, and communications chiefs - to the legal definition. These individuals must be certified by the Massachusetts State 911 Department under existing rules (MA 560 CMR 5.04). The change directly affects these certified telecommunicators by formally including their roles in the law. It is a definitional update, not a new policy or funding measure.

Maddy summaryHD 2041 updates the definition of eligible positions for retirement benefits within the Department of Correction. It specifically adds "correctional program officer A/B, C, D, or equivalent or successive titles" (and other Group 4 titles) to the list of roles qualifying for these benefits. This change directly affects correctional officers who have held these specific positions or equivalent Group 4 roles for 10 years or more. The bill modifies existing law to ensure these employees receive retirement benefits based on their tenure in these designated positions.

By Representative Sweezey of Duxbury, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kenneth P. Sweezey for legislation to establish a review process of guidelines for managing recreational use of beaches to protect piping plovers, terns and their habitats. Environment and Natural Resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HD 841) modifies Pembroke's procedures for recalling elected town officials. It directly affects Pembroke residents who may initiate recall petitions and the town officials subject to recall. Key changes include lowering the required signature percentage from 20% to 10% of eligible voters, extending the petition submission deadline from 14 to 30 days, and adjusting election timing rules (requiring recall elections at the next scheduled town election if it occurs more than 64 days after a refusal to resign). The bill also removes a prior requirement that 40% of eligible voters must participate in the recall election.