HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1967        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1478

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

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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 to amend the civil rights law, in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1967        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1478

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1561 OF 2021-2022.]

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 to amend the civil rights law, in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class.

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. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 59 the following section:-

SECTION 60. FALSE POLICE CLAIMS RELATING TO A MEMBER OF THE PROTECTED CLASS; PENALTIES.

SECTION 60. (a) Any person who intentionally selects a person or property for harm or causes damage to the property of another or causes physical injury or death to another or summons a police officer or peace officer without reason to suspect a violation of the penal law, any other criminal conduct, or an imminent threat to a person or property, in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct, shall be liable, in a civil action or proceeding maintained by such individual or group of individuals, for injunctive relief, damages, or any other appropriate relief in law or equity. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that the respondent has, in fact, violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such court or justice, enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring proof that any person has, in fact, been injured or damaged thereby. For the purposes of this subdivision, a person lacks reason to suspect a violation of the penal law, any other criminal conduct, or an imminent threat to a person or property where a reasonable person would not suspect such violation, conduct, or threat.