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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state law requiring businesses that pay incarcerated individuals to report their agreements to the Division of Victim Compensation and Assistance. Companies must submit contracts or summaries of verbal deals within 30 days and post a financial bond to protect victims if the money paid is linked to criminal activity. The law defines crimes as serious offenses punishable by prison time and includes provisions for notifying victims about these financial arrangements. If businesses fail to comply with reporting or bonding requirements, the state can impose civil penalties ranging from the contract value up to three times that amount. These measures aim to ensure that profits derived from criminal behavior are monitored and potentially made available to victims.
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 proposes to make phishing a criminal offense in Massachusetts by adding a new section to the state's general laws. It directly affects anyone who uses email, websites, or online services to pretend they represent a legitimate business without permission. The key provision establishes that doing so with the intent to steal money or personal information could result in a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to two and a half years, or both. The law specifically defines phishing as posing as an authorized business to procure payment or personal identifying information through electronic means.
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 amends Massachusetts state law to increase penalties for individuals who knowingly spread false reports about active shootings at schools. The change specifically targets the act of communicating fabricated threats of beheadings or active shooter incidents at educational facilities. By adding these specific scenarios to the existing list of punishable offenses, the legislation aims to deter the dissemination of false emergency information. The law directly affects anyone who creates or shares such false reports, subjecting them to stricter criminal consequences under current statutes.
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 establishes a statewide registry in Massachusetts to track individuals convicted of animal abuse crimes. Under the new law, anyone aged 18 or older found guilty of violating animal cruelty statutes must register with the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services within ten days of their conviction or release from prison. The registry will collect personal details such as the offender's name, address, crime description, and a photograph, and the registrant must pay an annual $50 fee to cover administrative costs. Convicted individuals must update their information if their address changes or submit an annual update, with the registration requirement lasting for five years or longer if additional convictions occur.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime of fetal homicide in Massachusetts, allowing prosecutors to charge individuals separately for causing the death or serious physical injury to a fetus. The law defines a "child in utero" as a human being at any stage of development carried in the womb and specifies that "bodily injury" includes significant physical harm such as broken bones or internal organ damage. Punishment for violating this new section would be the same as if the injury or death had occurred to the pregnant woman, without requiring proof that the offender knew the victim was pregnant or intended to harm the fetus. The legislation explicitly prohibits using these provisions to prosecute abortions performed with the pregnant woman's consent or any medical treatment provided to the mother or her unborn child.
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.