Sen. Jamie Eldridge

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits family and juvenile courts in Massachusetts from discriminating against parents with disabilities when making custody or parenting time decisions. It requires judges to consider a parent's disability as a neutral factor unless there is clear evidence that the disability directly harms the child and cannot be fixed through accommodations like adaptive equipment or supportive services. If a court decides a disability negatively impacts a custody ruling, it must provide written findings explaining the specific harm to the child and why accommodations would not prevent it. The legislation also formally defines key terms such as "disability" and "supportive parenting services" to ensure consistent application across legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new law in Massachusetts to prevent individuals convicted of specific animal cruelty crimes from owning, fostering, or working with animals. It directly affects people who have been found guilty of offenses such as animal abuse or neglect, banning them from possessing or residing with animals for a minimum of five years for a first offense and fifteen years for repeat offenses. The law requires courts to notify animal control and licensing officials about these restrictions within thirty days to ensure enforcement, while also allowing convicted individuals to petition the court once per year to potentially shorten the ban if they demonstrate rehabilitation.

Senate, February 29, 2024 --The committee on Elder Affairs, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 381) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish an LGBTQI long-term care facility bill of rights; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 637) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Sarah K. Peake and others relative to the right, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2604).

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.

March , 2024 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 251) of Brendan P. Crighton, Michael J. Barrett and Peter Capano for legislation to modernize school construction; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 278) of Barry R. Finegold, Adam Scanlon and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish a special commission to study the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 295) of John F. Keenan for legislation to create a facilities loan program for private special education schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 309) of Jason M. Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch and Kate Lipper-Garabedian for legislation to establish a special commission to review the adequacy and equity of the Massachusetts school building program; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 331) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to provide school building assistance for Special Education Collaboratives; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 359) of John C. Velis for legislation relative to school districts in receivership and the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 431) of Bruce J. Ayers relative to technology upgrade programs for public schools; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 441) of Daniel Cahill relative to school construction; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 553) of Edward R. Philips relative to the feasibility of ergonomically designed school buildings and its beneficial impact on students and faculty; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 568) of Adam Scanlon, Barry R. Finegold and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School Building Authority; (accompanied by bill, House, No. 569) of Adam Scanlon, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to providing for school building assistance for special education collaboratives; and (accompanied by bill, House, No. 606) of Marcus S. Vaughn and Ryan C. Fattman relative to School Building Advisory Board funding, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2659).

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens gun control in Massachusetts by restricting the sale of firearm frames and receivers, which are essential parts for building guns, to only licensed dealers and prohibiting their transfer to unlicensed individuals. It also shifts the authority for issuing orders to suspend firearm licenses and confiscate weapons from local licensing authorities to the state Attorney General. Additionally, the legislation expands existing abuse prevention orders by allowing courts to immediately suspend a person's license to carry a firearm and order them to surrender all their weapons if there is a substantial likelihood of immediate danger. These changes aim to tighten regulations on gun parts and provide more robust tools for courts to remove firearms from individuals deemed to pose a safety risk.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new parole review process for incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts who are at least 55 years old and have served either half of their sentence or 15 years, whichever comes first. It mandates that the parole board schedule a hearing within 60 days of eligibility, giving special attention to the person's age, long-term confinement, and any physical or mental conditions. The legislation also requires the provision of legal counsel and expert funds for indigent defendants, while prohibiting bias based on race, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the bill directs the parole board to submit an annual report detailing the demographics and outcomes of these hearings to state legislators.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state law to standardize protections for all prisoners placed in segregated confinement, which includes various forms of isolation like disciplinary housing and mental health watch. It establishes specific definitions for different housing types, such as secure adjustment units designed for rehabilitation and secure treatment units for those with serious mental illness, while ensuring these areas offer access to education, recreation, and visitation comparable to the general population. The legislation also mandates that prisoners in these units retain certain rights, including access to personal property and communication devices, unless a qualified mental health professional determines it is unsafe to do so. By amending existing statutes, the bill aims to ensure that conditions in isolated housing are not more restrictive than those in general population units and that inmates receive necessary services and opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to protect the in-person visitation rights of incarcerated individuals by prohibiting correctional facilities from unreasonably restricting access. It mandates that facilities provide at least five four-hour visiting periods per week and allows visitors to travel from over 75 miles away without prior approval if they pass a background check. The legislation also bans discrimination against visitors based on their criminal history or past incarceration and requires that new visitors be allowed to see an inmate within ten days of their request. Additionally, it prevents facilities from forcing inmates to choose between visiting family and other loved ones and stops the requirement for pre-approval lists to be reset when an inmate is transferred to a new facility.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Safe Communities Act, aims to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents by restricting how law enforcement interacts with individuals regarding their immigration status. It prohibits police officers and other law enforcement employees from questioning victims or witnesses about their immigration status unless required by state or federal law, while allowing judges and magistrates to make such inquiries during legal proceedings. Additionally, the legislation mandates that any interviews conducted by immigration agents or law enforcement for deportation purposes must happen only with the person's informed consent, which requires signing a written form explaining the purpose and consequences of the interview. The consent form must be available in English and other languages commonly spoken in the state, and it must offer the option for the individual to have an attorney present during the interview.