SENATE DOCKET, NO. 390        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2064

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 extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 390        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2064

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 extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.

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 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 157, after the words “chapter 32”  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 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agencies and municipalities”, in each instance, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agencies, 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 instance, 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 instance, 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 instance, 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, 2024.