HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2508        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1544

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Carol A. Doherty

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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 banning the publication of judicial and law enforcement officer addresses.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2508        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1544

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act banning the publication of judicial and law enforcement officer addresses.

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

Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 24C the following section:-

Section 24D. (a) (1) A person shall not knowingly, with purpose to expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, post or publish on the Internet the home address, unpublished home telephone number or personal email address of any active or retired law enforcement officer as defined in section 1 of chapter 6E, judge of any court of law of the commonwealth, state or county prosecutor or a spouse or child thereof. Whoever commits a knowing violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years.

(2) A person shall not, in reckless disregard of the probability of exposing another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property, post or publish on the Internet the home address, unpublished home telephone number or personal email address of any active or retired law enforcement officer as defined in section 1 of chapter 6E, judge of any court of law of the commonwealth, state or county prosecutor or a spouse or child thereof. Whoever commits a reckless violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 ½ years.

(b) A person shall not post or publish on the Internet the home address, unpublished home telephone number or personal email address of any active or retired law enforcement officer as defined in section 1 of chapter 6E, judge of any court of law of the commonwealth, state or county prosecutor or the spouse or child thereof under circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that information would expose another to harassment or risk of harm to life or property.

If a person violates this subsection, an aggrieved person or the attorney general or both may commence a civil action. A court may award as remedies: (1) actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000 for each violation of this act; (2) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law; (3) reasonable attorney’s fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and (4) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate.