HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3119        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1469

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kate Donaghue

_________________

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 relative to the repeal or reform of certain unenforceable or unconstitutional archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Kate Donaghue

19th Worcester

1/20/2023

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

1/20/2023

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

2/16/2023

Adrianne Pusateri Ramos

14th Essex

6/7/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3119        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1469

By Representative Donaghue of Westborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1469) of Kate Donaghue, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to the repeal or reform of certain archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the repeal or reform of certain unenforceable or unconstitutional archaic laws on religion, piety, and morality.

 

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 Section 30 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. Section 31 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the first sentence.

SECTION 3. Section 15 of Chapter 233 is hereby amended by striking the wording in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:- In all cases in which an oath or affirmation of truthfulness is required by law, the oath or affirmation shall make no religious reference and the person administrating the oath or affirmation shall require only that the person taking the oath or affirmation hold up his or her hand and affirm that the testimony or declaration is truthful and, when appropriate, made under the penalties of perjury.

SECTION 4. Sections 16 through 19 of Chapter 233 of the General Laws are hereby repealed.

SECTION 5. Section 26 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. Section 29 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 7. Section 34 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 8. Section 35 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 9. Section 36 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.