SENATE DOCKET, NO. 661        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1979

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

_________________

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 establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/31/2023

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/2/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

2/6/2023

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

2/6/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/6/2023

Steven Owens

29th Middlesex

2/7/2023

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/8/2023

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

2/10/2023

Liz Miranda

Second Suffolk

2/14/2023

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/15/2023

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

2/15/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/15/2023

Cindy F. Friedman

Fourth Middlesex

3/3/2023

Danillo A. Sena

37th Middlesex

3/6/2023

Lydia Edwards

Third Suffolk

4/10/2023

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

6/23/2023

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

6/29/2023

Manny Cruz

7th Essex

1/8/2024

Russell E. Holmes

6th Suffolk

3/10/2024


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 661        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1979

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1979) of Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis, Michael J. Barrett, Rebecca L. Rausch and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a jail and prison construction moratorium.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2030 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium.

 

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 7C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 72 the following section:-

Section 73. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term “correctional facility” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 1 of chapter 125.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a state agency or public agency shall not:

(i) study, plan, design, acquire, lease, search for sites, or construct new correctional facilities or detention centers;

(ii) expand the capacity of an existing correctional facility or detention center beyond its current design or rated capacity;

(iii) convert any part of an existing or dormant correctional facility or detention center for the purpose of detention or incarceration, including to change or expand the populations incarcerated in that facility or center;

(iv) renovate an existing or dormant correctional facility or detention center beyond requirements for maintenance or to comply with building code requirements; or

(v) repair an existing or dormant correctional facility or detention center for the purposes of expanding the facility or center, or increasing its bed capacity.

SECTION 2. Section 73 of chapter 7C of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Section 2 shall take effect 5 years after the effective date of this act.