HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 801        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1619

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Benjamin Swan

_________________

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 regulations requiring secure videotaping of the booking process of state police arrestees.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

1/14/2015

John V. Fernandes

10th Worcester

2/4/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 801        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1619

By Mr. Swan of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1619) of Benjamin Swan and John V. Fernandes relative to requiring the video or digital recording of  statements made by all parties participating in the booking process of persons arrested by state police officers.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1640 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to regulations requiring secure videotaping of the booking process of state police arrestees.

 

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 secretary of public safety and security, in consultation with Colonel of State Police, shall adopt regulations requiring the video or digital recording, or other similar means of preserving visual images and statements made by all parties participating in the booking process of any person arrested by a state police officer.  The regulations shall include procedures to ensure that such recordings are not tampered with or destroyed for such period of time as the secretary deems reasonable.

A failure to use video equipment in a manner to hide or destroy a factional representation of the booking, shall constitute dereliction of duty.

SECTION 2. The secretary of public safety and security shall adopt the regulations required by section 1

no later than July 31, 2016.