SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2417        FILED ON: 5/3/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2571

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

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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 to prevent domestic violence.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2417        FILED ON: 5/3/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2571

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 to prevent domestic violence.

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 9 of Chapter 209A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end the following:-

“The form of complaint shall be supplied without withholding to any person who requests said form and shall be made easily accessible to the public by the offices promulgating said form.”

SECTION 2. The administrative justices of the superior court, probate and family court, district court, and the Boston municipal court departments shall jointly promulgate a new form of complaint for use under Chapter 209A of the general laws that shall include a field wherein a petitioner may indicate whether they have reasonable cause to be in fear of their life at the time of the complaint form’s submission.

SECTION 3. The Department of Public Safety shall establish, advertise, and maintain a toll-free telephone hotline that shall be capable of responding to and forwarding complaints of domestic violence to ensure full and immediate safety of the complainant. For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence” shall have the same meaning as “abuse” as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 209A.

SECTION 4. Section 7 of Chapter 209A is hereby amended in the fifth paragraph, by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“Any violation of such order or a protection order issued by another jurisdiction shall be punishable by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than five years in a house of correction, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

SECTION 5. This Act shall go into effect immediately upon its passage.