HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 41        FILED ON: 1/2/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1372

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Patricia A. Haddad

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act protecting personal information.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

1/2/2013

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

 

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 41        FILED ON: 1/2/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1372

By Mrs. Haddad of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1372) of Patricia A. Haddad, Benjamin Swan and Alice Hanlon Peisch relative to protecting the personal information of persons on jurors lists.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act protecting personal information.

 

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. Chapter 234A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 10, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 10.  Each city and town shall make a sequentially numbered list of the names, addresses, and dates of birth of all persons who were seventeen years of age or older as of the first day of January of the current year and who resided as of the first day of January of the current year in such city or town.  The names of residents shall be listed and numbered, without duplication, in alphabetical order, one name to each number, along with such other information and in such form and format as shall be specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner.  Hereinafter in this chapter, such list shall be referred to as the "numbered resident list" and a particular individual on such list shall be referred to as a "numbered resident."  The cost of preparing the numbered resident list shall be paid by the city or town.  Each year, on or before the date specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner, each city and town shall submit one copy of the numbered resident list to the office of jury commissioner.   In no event shall any city or town submit its numbered resident list later than the first day of September of each year, absent the written consent of the jury commissioner.  Upon submission of the numbered resident list to the office of jury commissioner, each city and town shall create a copy of such list with the dates of birth of numbered residents redacted, and shall make the redacted numbered resident list available for inspection by members of the general public.  Numbered resident lists available for public inspection shall not include the dates of birth of numbered residents. 

SECTION 2.  Said chapter 234A is hereby further amended by striking out section 15, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-¬

Section 15.  The office of jury commissioner shall prepare the prospective juror list for each city and town as specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner.  Each list shall contain the names, addresses, dates of birth, and related information for all randomly selected prospective jurors from the city or town.  The list shall be in alphabetical order.  The content and format of the prospective juror list shall be specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner.  The office of jury commissioner shall deliver two copies of the prospective juror list to each city and town as specified in the regulations of the jury commissioner; provided, however, that such lists shall be redacted to omit dates of birth of prospective jurors.  Each city and town shall make this redacted list available for inspection by members of the public.  The office of jury commissioner shall make the redacted prospective juror list of any city or town available for inspection by members of the public upon request; provided, however, that such lists shall be available only to insure the integrity of the juror selection process and the accountability of the office of jury commissioner, and that the jury commissioner shall have discretionary authority to refuse to provide such lists for commercial or research purposes. 

SECTION 3.  Said chapter 234A is hereby further amended by striking out section 67, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-¬

Section 67.  Not later than ten days in advance of scheduled appearances by jurors, the office of jury commissioner shall send or deliver to the appropriate clerks of court a list of the grand and trial jurors expected to appear for service in the respective courts.  The list shall contain the name and address of each juror and such other information as the jury commissioner, with the approval of the committee, deems appropriate.  Unless the court orders otherwise, the list shall be available upon request for inspection by parties, counsel, their agents and members of the public.  The date of birth of each juror shall be available for public inspection only upon order of the court.