HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4546        FILED ON: 10/18/2019

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser, (BY REQUEST)

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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 requiring notification of fraud.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4546        FILED ON: 10/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act requiring notification of fraud.

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

Chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1B the following section:-

Section 1C. (a) The division of professional licensure or any board of registration under this chapter shall, for each entity or person it supervises, publish on its website a notice of fraud as required under this section.

(b) In imposing a decision to suspend or withdraw a license or sanction a licensee under this chapter for a defendant licensee who has been found guilty of an offense involving fraud or other intentionally deceptive practices, the division or board of registration shall give reasonable notice and explanation of the offense, in such form as the division or board may approve, to the victims of the offense. The division or board of registration may order, in addition to any other penalty, conviction or sanction imposed upon the licensee, that the defendant give reasonable notice and explanation of the offense, in such form as the division or board may approve, to the victims of the offense. The notice may be ordered to be given by mail, by advertising in designated areas or through designated media, or by other appropriate means. In determining whether to require the licensee to give such notice, the division or board may consider other factors to the extent that they are applicable and shall consider the cost involved in giving the notice as it relates to the loss caused by the offense.

In imposing a decision to suspend or withdraw a license or sanction a licensee under this chapter for a defendant licensee who has been found guilty of an offense involving fraud or other intentionally deceptive practices, in the event that the defendant licensee is an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth, the division or board of registration shall give reasonable notice and explanation of the offense, in such form as the division or board may approve, to the Board of Bar Overseers, the Office of Bar Counsel, and the Massachusetts Bar Association.