Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens legal protections for survivors of sexual assault in Massachusetts by expanding the types of crimes that qualify for specific harassment orders. It updates state laws to include sexual offenses such as rape and sexual assault under the existing harassment statutes, allowing victims to seek court orders that require the perpetrator to stay away from their home or workplace. Additionally, the legislation mandates that courts immediately suspend a defendant's firearms license and order the surrender of all guns and ammunition if there is a substantial likelihood of immediate danger. These measures aim to provide more comprehensive safety options for survivors while maintaining the ability for defendants to request a quick review of these firearm restrictions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts in Massachusetts from granting visitation rights to parents convicted of rape when seeking access to a child conceived during that crime. It also bars visitation orders if there is clear and convincing evidence that rape occurred, even if the parent has not been formally convicted. The law directly affects legal proceedings involving parents accused of rape and the children born from those pregnancies. By removing the ability of courts to order visitation in these specific situations, the legislation aims to protect victims and their offspring from potential harm.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts divorce laws to ensure that judges consider documented evidence of domestic abuse when deciding alimony payments. It requires courts to review records from the state's domestic violence tracking system and explicitly prohibits awarding alimony to a spouse who has been convicted of abusing their partner or their child. Additionally, the legislation allows a paying spouse to ask the court to end an existing alimony order if they can prove the receiving spouse was convicted of an abuse-related crime after all appeals are finished. These changes aim to protect victims of abuse by preventing them from receiving financial support from an abuser.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to modernize the types of documents accepted as proof of age for marriage applicants. It requires that both parties be at least 18 years old and must present one of ten specified documents, such as a passport, driver's license, or birth certificate, with a passport being the highest priority. The legislation also allows clerks to accept lower-priority documents like school records if higher-quality proof is not easily available. These changes directly affect couples seeking to marry in the state by clarifying which forms of identification are valid for verifying age.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to include school transportation vehicle drivers and monitors in the list of personnel eligible for certain protections under Chapter 71. Specifically, it adds these roles to the existing list of school nurses who are covered by the law's provisions regarding workplace safety and health. The amendment clarifies that these protections apply when drivers or monitors are on a school bus or at a bus stop. By updating the legal text, the measure ensures that transportation staff receive the same statutory safeguards as other designated school employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a moratorium on new slaughterhouse operations and expansions in Massachusetts starting January 1, 2024. It defines a slaughterhouse as a facility processing various animals with annual revenues of at least $30,000 and allows only those that began construction before January 1, 2023, to finish their projects. The legislation prohibits any new facilities from commencing operations or expanding after the specified date and imposes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for violations. Enforcement is handled by the Attorney General, who can pursue legal action against violators upon complaint or on their own initiative.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Massachusetts public high schools to teach hands-only CPR and automated external defibrillator use as part of the physical or health education curriculum for grades 9 through 12. To meet this requirement, school districts must choose a free training program based on a nationally recognized standard that includes hands-on practice for every student. Participation is mandatory for graduation, but students can be exempted if a doctor certifies that the training would be harmful to them or if a parent or guardian submits a written objection. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services to create rules that allow residential care homes and rest homes to receive higher reimbursement rates under specific conditions. The first condition requires the facility to hire licensed nursing staff to meet the increased clinical needs of its residents, while the second applies to homes that have completed mandated improvements following a public health survey. In both cases, the law mandates that these financial adjustments be established within 90 days of the relevant action being taken. The legislation aims to ensure that facilities providing enhanced care or meeting correction plans are compensated accordingly without changing the core funding structure for other residents.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special commission to investigate how people falsely claim to have service animals. The commission will consist of fifteen members, including officials from the state judiciary, police, disability offices, and advocacy groups for both service animals and other types of pets. Its primary task is to study the issue of misrepresentation and make recommendations on how to address it.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions regarding service animals and establish a formal process for verifying their legitimate status. It creates a new section in the state's general laws to define terms like "service dog" and "service-dog-in-training" based on federal standards, while explicitly protecting business owners from misrepresentation. A key provision requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and distribute a verification decal for businesses to display in their windows or doors. This decal will be created in collaboration with national service dog organizations, restaurant owner associations, and business owner associations to help identify legitimate service animals.