SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1427        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 905

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Barrett

_________________

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 eliminate the public counsel fee.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1427        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 905

By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 905) of Michael J. Barrett for legislation to eliminate the public counsel fee.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 911 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to eliminate the public counsel fee.

 

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. Subsection (f) of section 2A of chapter 211D of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out in the first two sentences, each time it appears, the figure “$150” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $100.

SECTION 2. Said subsection (f) of said section 2A of said chapter 211D is hereby further amended by striking out in the first two sentences, each time it appears, the figure “$100” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $50.

SECTION 3. Said section 2A of said chapter 211D is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (f), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(f) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no person determined to be indigent shall be assessed a counsel fee.  

SECTION 4. Section 1 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

SECTION 5. Section 2 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

SECTION 6. Section 3 of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.