HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 774        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2235

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act creating a task force to study the use of the internet by sex offenders..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  The joint committee on public safety and homeland security shall convene a task force to report on electronic communications and the feasibility of tracking sex offender internet use, via methods including but not limited to: (1) internet protocol addresses, (2) media access control addresses, (3) internet service providers, (4) electronic mail, and (5) instant messaging.  The task force’s study shall address, but not be limited to, the following areas: (1) current laws and regulations; (2) other states laws, regulations, and efforts; (3) the feasibility of registration of sex offenders’ online addresses; and (4) relevant civil liberties issues.

SECTION 2.  (a) The task force shall consist of: 

Three members of the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities, and energy, two to be appointed by the chair, one to be appointed by the house minority leader;

Three members of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, two to be appointed by the chair, one to be appointed by the house minority leader;

One member of the state police, to be appointed by the colonel of the state police;

One licensed attorney, with experience in civil rights’ cases, to be appointed by the attorney general; and

Four experts to be appointed by the commissioners of the department of public utilities upon a majority vote, provided two of the experts have had significant knowledge of a private telecommunications company.

The task force may consult with other government agencies, both federal and state, as well as members of the telecommunication community.

SECTION 3.  The task force shall submit a report, including any draft legislation and regulations to the joint committee on public safety and homeland security within 12 months of enactment.