HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 707        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1355

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sheila C. Harrington

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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 relative to creating a commission to study simplifying the Trial Court.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 707        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1355

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1375 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to creating a commission to study simplifying the Trial Court.

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. There shall be a special commission to study the feasibility of organizing the trial court by combining efforts, resources and functions of the various court departments so as to provide multiple services in locations which are easily accessible to residents in each of the 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The commission shall consist of 2 individuals appointed by the senate president; provided, 1 shall be a member of the joint committee on the judiciary and 1 shall be a representative of a non-profit public policy institution; 2 individuals appointed by the house speaker; provided, 1 shall be a member of the joint committee on the judiciary and 1 shall be a representative of a non-profit public policy institution; 2 individuals appointed by the house minority leader; provided, 1 shall be a member of the joint committee on the judiciary and 1 shall be a representative of a non-profit public policy institution; 2 individuals appointed by the senate minority leader; provided, 1 shall be a member of the joint committee on the judiciary and 1 shall be a representative of a non-profit public policy institution; 8 justices of the trial court appointed by the chief justice of administration and management; provided, 1 shall be from a district court in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, or Hampden county, 1 shall be from a district court in Middlesex, Essex, Plymouth, or Barnstable county, 1 shall be from a superior court in Norfolk or Suffolk county, 1 shall be from a superior court in Dukes or Nantucket county, 2 shall be from separate probate and family courts in Worcester and Middlesex counties, respectively, and 2 shall be from separate juvenile courts in Essex and Plymouth counties, respectively; 8 individuals appointed by the governor; provided, 2 shall be private-sector economists, 2 shall be private-sector practicing attorneys, 2 shall be procurement specialists, and 2 shall be private-sector business leaders. The commission shall make a comprehensive study of the feasibility of organizing the trial court by combining efforts, resources and functions of the various court departments so as to provide multiple services in locations which are easily accessible to residents in each of the 14 counties of the Commonwealth; provided, the study will identify cost savings; provided, the study will include the cost effectiveness of leasing court space and owning court space; provided, the study will include the feasibility of providing court services to residents via an official website of the Commonwealth. The commission shall convene its first official meeting not later than August 1, 2015. The commission shall prepare a report of the findings and recommendations together with recommendations for legislation to implement those recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house not later than July 31, 2016. The commission shall not receive compensation.