HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 665        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 896

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jay D. Livingstone

_________________

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 to enhance the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jay D. Livingstone

8th Suffolk

1/17/2017

Frank A. Moran

17th Essex

 

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

 

Jennifer L. Flanagan

Worcester and Middlesex

 

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 665        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 896

By Mr. Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 896) of Jay D. Livingstone and others relative to the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to enhance the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth.

 

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 20D of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the existing section and replacing it with the following paragraph:

A witness who is called or who may be called to testify before a grand jury or in a criminal proceeding in the supreme judicial court, appeals court, superior court, district court, or in a proceeding in the juvenile court, may, in the manner provided in section twenty E, be granted immunity in any proceeding or investigation involving a criminal offense.

SECTION 2. Section 20E(a) of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words “or Superior Court” and replacing them with the words “Superior Court, District Court or Juvenile Court.”

SECTION 3. Section 20E(c) of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words “or Superior Court” and replacing them with the words “Superior Court, District Court or Juvenile Court,” and by striking the words “in the superior court” at the conclusion of the subsection.