HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 835 FILED ON: 1/17/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
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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 allowing local housing authorities access to criminal and other records of tenants and prospective tenants.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Bruce J. Ayers | 1st Norfolk | 1/17/2017 |
James M. Murphy | 4th Norfolk |
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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 835 FILED ON: 1/17/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 716
By Mr. Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 716) of Bruce J. Ayers and James M. Murphy for legislation to allow local housing authorities access to criminal records of tenants and prospective tenants. The Judiciary. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1158 OF 2015-2016.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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An Act allowing local housing authorities access to criminal and other records of tenants and prospective tenants.
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. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (a) the following new paragraph:—(b) Local housing authorities are allowed access to criminal offender records information that indicates the arrest and conviction records and any tenants and prospective tenants. Such local housing authorities shall also have access to all information relative to any pending criminal charges, restraining orders in effect or previously in effect and any protective or custody actions taken against such tenants or prospective tenants by the department of social services. Nothing in this act shall be construed as an infringement on personal privacy and in no case shall a local housing authority be responsible for any liability arising from the access and use of the aforesaid records for the purpose of evaluating tenants or prospective tenants and their suitability for housing under the jurisdiction of the authority.