Budget Amendment ID: FY2019-S4-1016-R1

Redraft JUD 1016

Electronic Signatures for Criminal Complaints

Messrs. Brownsberger and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 29 the following 4 sections:-

“SECTION 29A. Section 2 of chapter 275 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the word “by” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , electronically or in person, by.

SECTION 29B. Said section 2 of said chapter 275, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

If a complainant who subscribes to a complaint electronically is a law enforcement officer, the complainant may, in lieu of being examined on oath by a justice, subscribe to the complaint under the pains and penalties of perjury. As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” shall mean an officer of a local police department, the office of environmental law enforcement, the University of Massachusetts, a state university, a community college, capital and state police or an officer appointed as a special state police officer under section 63 of chapter 22C.

SECTION 9C. Section 22 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the word “by” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , electronically or in person, by.

SECTION 9D. Said section 22 of said chapter 276, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

If a complainant who subscribes to a complaint electronically is a law enforcement officer, the complainant may, in lieu of being examined on oath by a justice, subscribe to the complaint under the pains and penalties of perjury. As used in this section, “law enforcement officer” shall mean an officer of a local police department, the office of environmental law enforcement, the University of Massachusetts, a state university, a community college, capital and state police or an officer appointed as a special state police officer under section 63 of chapter 22C.”.