Sen. Barry Finegold

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2819) of Barry R. Finegold (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the town of Tewksbury to convert a certain parcel of land to general recreational purposes. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. [Local Approval Received.]

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2784) of Barry R. Finegold (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the town of Andover to convey a non-exclusive access easement over a certain parcel of land. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to criminalize the intentional coercion or encouragement of suicide by individuals who have control over another person's life or circumstances. It specifically prohibits acts such as forcing someone to commit suicide, providing the means to do so, or physically assisting in the act, while defining key terms like suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. The legislation includes a crucial exemption for medical treatments lawfully administered by licensed physicians, ensuring that standard medical care remains unaffected. If passed, the bill would allow for prison sentences of up to five years for those found guilty of these specific actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act, which allows trustees to modify or terminate existing trusts and create new ones with different terms under specific legal conditions. The legislation primarily affects trustees, beneficiaries, and charitable organizations by defining key roles and procedures, such as clarifying who counts as a "qualified beneficiary" and ensuring proper notice is given to those interested in the trust. Key provisions include expanding the definition of beneficiaries to cover charitable organizations and animal caretakers, while also standardizing how trust terms are interpreted to include actions taken by trustees in accordance with the law. By updating Chapter 203E of the General Laws, the bill aims to provide a clearer legal framework for restructuring trusts without requiring court intervention in many cases.

Senate, July 22, 2024 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill establishing a special commission to review the adequacy and equity of the Massachusetts school building program (Senate, No. 2659),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2885).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new category called "violent act injury" to cover serious, permanent injuries caused by dangerous weapons like firearms, knives, or vehicles during an attack. It allows state employees in specific groups to receive disability pensions if they become permanently unable to work due to such violent attacks or related hazards while performing their duties. To qualify, the injury must have occurred within two years of the pension application, and the employee must prove through a medical review that they cannot return to their job. The legislation ensures that victims of workplace violence can access financial support similar to those injured by accidental means, provided they did not act with serious and willful misconduct.

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 amends Massachusetts law to improve how criminal convictions involving retirement system members are reported. It requires the attorney general or district attorney to immediately inform the relevant commission if a member is convicted of a crime that might lead to pension forfeiture. The commission must first confirm that the conviction actually results in a loss of benefits and receive specific instructions to take action before notifying the member's retirement board or employer. This process ensures that reports of criminal convictions are only shared when they directly impact a person's retirement rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to clarify how the state handles pension forfeiture when a retirement system member is convicted of a crime. It requires the attorney general or district attorney to immediately inform the retirement commission of any final conviction that might lead to the loss of pension rights. The commission must first determine if the conviction legally mandates forfeiture before reporting the case to the member's employer or retirement board. Once confirmed, the commission directs the appropriate board to take action to remove the member's pension benefits. This change ensures a standardized process for enforcing financial penalties on public employees who commit crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies in Massachusetts to be able to install and run licensed software on any hardware they choose, rather than being restricted by vendor conditions. It directly affects contracts for software used on standard desktop or server computers by prohibiting clauses that limit hardware flexibility. The law mandates that the Secretary of Executive Office of Technology Services and Security issue administrative rules to enforce these requirements. Contracts for software licensing entered into on or after the bill's effective date must comply with these new standards.