HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3644        FILED ON: 1/15/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2269

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to enhance the threats statute..

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

Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 13L the following new section:-

“Section 13M.  Threats; arrest.

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections two and three of chapter two hundred and seventy-five or any other general or special law to the contrary, no person shall threaten to commit a crime against the person or property of another, under circumstances that would reasonably justify apprehension on the part of any ordinary person.  A police officer may arrest, without a warrant, any person for whom the officer has probable cause to believe is violation or has violated this section.”