SENATE DOCKET, NO. 402        FILED ON: 1/29/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1108

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

_________________

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 improving the quality of courthouse security.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

 

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

2/24/2021

Steven G. Xiarhos

5th Barnstable

2/24/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 402        FILED ON: 1/29/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1108

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1108) of Michael O. Moore, Brian W. Murray and Steven G. Xiarhos for legislation to improve the quality of courthouse security.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1001 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act improving the quality of courthouse security.

 

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 70A of chapter 221 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “the areas of the court to which they have been assigned;” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

the premises of the court or in the immediate vicinity thereof.

SECTION 2. Said section 70A of said chapter 221, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence:-

Pursuant to said police powers, court officers may carry within the premises of the court or in the immediate vicinity thereof such weapons as the chief justice of the trial court, the chief justice of the supreme judicial court or the chief justice of the appeals court shall determine necessary. Provided, however, that, prior to being permitted to carry a firearm within a courthouse, a court officer shall have a license to carry pursuant to Section 131 of Chapter 140 or Section 131F of Chapter 140, and shall have completed a firearm training course approved by the chief justice of the trial court, the chief justice of the supreme judicial court, or the chief justice of the appeals court.