SECTION 1. Section 178E of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words "commonwealth or in another state", in lines 24, 66 and 92, the following words, in each instance:-

and to give notice of change of name,

SECTION 2. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after said section 178E, the following new section:-

Section 178E½

(a) A sex offender who is required to register pursuant to sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, shall notify the board within 7 days after a change of name. A sex offender who knowingly violates this provision shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 2 1/2 years in the house of correction or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. A violation of this subsection may be prosecuted in the district court in the judicial district where the sex offender currently resides, works or attends an institution of higher learning or other educational institution in the commonwealth, or where the sex offender is currently registered to work, reside or attend an institution of higher learning or other educational institution in the commonwealth, based on the sex offender's latest registration data.

(b) The board, upon receipt of the sex offender's name change notification, shall promptly transmit notice of the sex offender's name registration change to: the police departments in the municipalities in the commonwealth wherein the sex offender is currently registered to reside, work or attend an institution of higher learning or other educational institution; the police departments in the municipalities in the commonwealth wherein the sex offender, as currently registered with the board, intends to reside, work, or plans to attend an institution of higher learning; and the police departments in the municipalities in the commonwealth wherein a sex offense was committed and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(c) Except as required under subsection (b), the board shall make notification of a sex offender's name change to governmental departments, agencies, institutions and municipal police departments or to the public, as authorized under section 178K to receive registration information. A municipal police department notified by the board of a sex offender's name change pursuant to subsection (b) shall make notification of such name change to individuals, organizations, governmental departments, agencies and institutions and municipal police departments or the public, as authorized under section 178K to receive registration information.