SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2090        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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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 expanding the public records law.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2090        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

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 expanding the public records law.

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 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “chapter 32” in line 157, the following words:- , or by the general court, or by the office of the governor of the commonwealth.

SECTION 2. Said section 7 of chapter 4, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in paragraph twenty-sixth, by inserting the following new subparagraphs: 

(v) communications between a member of the general court, or such member’s employee, agent, or representative, and any constituent of such member; provided, however, that the communications reasonably relate to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services or otherwise interacting with a state or federal agency; or

(w) communications, memoranda, drafts or other documents relating to developing policy positions of members of the general court or the governor of the commonwealth. 

SECTION 3: Section 1A of chapter 66 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agencies and municipalities” in each place that they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agencies and municipalities, the general court, and the governor. 

SECTION 4: Said section 1A of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in lines 5-6  and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor. 

SECTION 5: Section 6A of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agency and municipality” in each place that they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, and the governor. 

SECTION 6: Section 10 of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each place that they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.

SECTION 7: Said section 10 of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each place that they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.

SECTION 8: Said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 18 and inserting in place thereof the following section: 

Section 18.  Declarations, affidavits and other papers filed by claimants in the office of the commissioner of veterans' services, or records kept by him for reference by the officials of his office, shall not be public records.

SECTION 9: The provisions of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.