HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4470        FILED ON: 1/26/2016

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

_________________

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 persons seeking drug addiction treatment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

5th Essex

1/26/2016

Paul J. Donato

35th Middlesex

2/2/2016


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4470        FILED ON: 1/26/2016

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3993

By Ms. Ferrante of Gloucester, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Paul J. Donato relative to the prosecution of persons seeking assistance or treatment for drug related addictions at police stations.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to persons seeking drug addiction treatment.

 

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

Section 34A of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (b) the following paragraph:-

(b½) A person who, in good faith, enters a police station and seeks assistance or treatment for a person present at such police station suffering from a drug-related addiction, or a person who, in good faith, enters a police station and seeks assistance or treatment for a drug-related addiction, or is the subject of a good faith request for such assistance or treatment, shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance under sections 34 or 35, or possession of drug paraphernalia under section 32I, if the evidence for such charge of possession was gained as a result of the seeking of assistance or treatment.