HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3355 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2031
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Andres X. Vargas
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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 domestic violence reports and confidentiality.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Andres X. Vargas | 3rd Essex | 1/17/2025 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 3/3/2025 |
Samantha Montaño | 15th Suffolk | 3/18/2025 |
Mindy Domb | 3rd Hampshire | 3/31/2025 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 4/7/2025 |
John C. Velis | Hampden and Hampshire | 4/7/2025 |
Danillo A. Sena | 37th Middlesex | 4/16/2025 |
Leigh Davis | 3rd Berkshire | 4/29/2025 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 6/17/2025 |
Vanna Howard | 17th Middlesex | 7/25/2025 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 7/25/2025 |
Natalie M. Blais | 1st Franklin | 9/23/2025 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 9/23/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3355 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2031
By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2031) of Andres X. Vargas and Jason M. Lewis relative to domestic violence reports and confidentiality. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to domestic violence reports and confidentiality.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 97D the following section:-
Section 97D½. (a) There shall be a task force established to complete a systematic review of the laws pertaining to domestic violence and sexual assault reports and confidentiality. The task force shall consist of: the attorney general or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association or a designee; the colonel of the state police or a designee; the executive director of Massachusetts office for victim assistance or a designee; 2 members appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall represent domestic or sexual violence programs in the Commonwealth, have experience working directly with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, or be a survivor of domestic or sexual violence; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall represent domestic or sexual violence programs in the Commonwealth, have experience working directly with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, or be a survivor of domestic or sexual violence; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and 2 persons appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall represent domestic or sexual violence programs in the Commonwealth, have experience working directly with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, or be a survivor of domestic or sexual violence. The members of the task force shall appoint a chair.
(b) The task force shall: (i) assess the adequacy of laws pertaining to domestic violence, sexual assault, and confidentiality including, but not limited to, section 97D of chapter 41 of the General Laws; (ii) identify and review the impact of said section 97D; and (iii) develop recommendations to ensure confidentiality of domestic violence survivors without protecting perpetrators.
(c) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and legislative recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary not later than 18 months after the effective date of this act. The task force shall determine if subsequent reports shall be necessary to properly address this issue.