HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1321        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

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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 identifying costs associated with legal counsel for classification hearings.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1321        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1579 OF 2023-2024.]

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 identifying costs associated with legal counsel for classification hearings.

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. There is hereby established a commission to identify the annual costs of providing court-appointed counsel for sex offender classification hearings.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of 14 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on judiciary, one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the house; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the house; two members appointed by the attorney general; two members to be appointed by the appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; and two members appointed by the governor, with experience in classification hearing procedures.

SECTION 3. The commission shall measure the annual costs of providing counsel for sex offender classification hearings.

SECTION 4. The commission shall submit a report, including any draft legislation and regulations to the joint committee on transportation within 12 months of the enactment of this Act.