SECTION 1. Section 24 of Chapter 37 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:

A sheriff, or anyone acting under a sheriff’s direction or by arrangement with a sheriff, shall not transport a prisoner or other person in the sheriff’s custody within the commonwealth beyond the borders of the commonwealth without the express prior written approval of the secretary of administration and finance and the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security. Nor shall a sheriff, nor anyone acting under a sheriff’s direction or by arrangement with a sheriff, transport said prisoner or other person out of the commonwealth without first filing, not less than 90 days before any transportation occurs, a detailed description of the purpose, mode and manner, physical and material conditions and constraints attendant to, and duration of, both the transport and the transport destination, with the secretary of administration and finance, secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary, the chair of senate ways and means and the chair of house ways and means.  In the event of a bona fide public health or safety emergency that may necessitate the transportation of prisoners or other persons in a sheriff’s custody out of Massachusetts, said sheriff shall provide said detailed description to the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary, the chair of senate ways and means and the chair of house ways and means as soon as is practicable, and shall obtain, prior to undertaking said transport, express prior written approval from the secretary of administration and finance and secretary of the executive office of public safety and security. Any prisoner or other person transported out of the commonwealth shall not participate in any work, labor, or public or community service program while outside the commonwealth without the express prior written approval of the aforementioned secretaries.

SECTION 2. Section 25 of said Chapter 37 of the Massachusetts General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:

The secretary of administration and finance shall not request, approve, or distribute any appropriations or monies for the transportation out of the commonwealth of a prisoner or other person in the custody of a sheriff unless said sheriff has complied with the provisions of section 24 of this chapter.