HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 948        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1472

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William J. Driscoll, Jr., (BY REQUEST)

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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 relative to consanguinity as a defense to the crime of accessory after the fact.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 948        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1472

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to consanguinity as a defense to the crime of accessory after the fact.

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

Section 4 of chapter 274 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second and third sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- The fact that the defendant is the spouse of the offender shall be a defense to a prosecution under this section. If such a defendant testifies solely as to the existence of such relationship, they shall not be subject to cross examination on any other subject matter, nor shall their criminal record, if any, except for perjury or subornation of perjury, be admissible to impeach their credibility.