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March 28, 2024 Rain | 49°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT PROVIDING PROTECTIONS AGAINST TERRORISM.

Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is forthwith to provide protections against terrorism, therefore, it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety and convenience.


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. Clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(n) records, including, but not limited to, blueprints, plans, policies, procedures and schematic drawings, which relate to internal layout and structural elements, security measures, emergency preparedness, threat or vulnerability assessments, or any other records relating to the security or safety of persons or buildings, structures, facilities, utilities, transportation or other infrastructure located within the commonwealth, the disclosure of which, in the reasonable judgment of the record custodian, subject to review by the supervisor of public records under subsection (b) of section 10 of chapter 66, is likely to jeopardize public safety.

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of section 8 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the third sentence the following sentence:- If the registrar has reasonable cause to suspect that any document presented by an applicant as proof of identity or age is altered, false or otherwise invalid, the registrar shall refuse to grant the license until the registrar is satisfied as to the applicant's true identity or age.

SECTION 3. The first paragraph of section 8B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the second sentence the following sentence:- If the registrar has reasonable cause to suspect that any document presented by an applicant as proof of identity or age is altered, false or otherwise invalid, the registrar shall refuse to grant the permit until the registrar is satisfied as to the applicant's true age identity or age.

SECTION 4. Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 37, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 37. As used in this section, the word "commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of agriculture or his designee, and any rules, regulations, orders, licenses or permits issued under this chapter. The commissioner may assess administrative fines, not to exceed $500 per offense, for violations of this chapter. Each animal involved in a violation may constitute a separate offense, and each day that a violation continues after receipt of written notice of such violation from the department may constitute a separate offense. Total fines assessed in any given action under this section shall not exceed $10,000. The commissioner may deny any application for, suspend or revoke any license or permit issued under this chapter upon a finding of consistent or continual failure to keep or produce records required by this chapter. Denial, suspension or revocations shall be effective pending resolution of any appeal, unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without alleging or proving the lack of other adequate remedies at law, the commissioner may apply for an injunction to restrain any violation of this chapter in order to protect human or animal health. The remedies provided in this section are available in addition to, and without limiting, any other penalties provided by law or equity, in this chapter or elsewhere. The district and superior courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce this chapter and to restrain violations thereof. Enforcement actions brought under this section and appeals thereof shall conform to the applicable provisions of chapter 30A and hearing regulations promulgated thereunder. The commissioner may promulgate regulations to implement this section. The commissioner may issue orders necessary to enforce this chapter and to restrain violations thereof. Such orders shall be effective pending resolution of any appeal, unless otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 5. Said chapter 129 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 39D the following section:-

Section 39E. As used in the section, the word "livestock" shall include all bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, equine animals and poultry. The word "poultry" shall include all domesticated birds including, but not limited to, chickens, turkeys, guineas, exotic and game birds. Every person engaged in the business of auctioning livestock shall obtain a license therefore from the director, the fee for which shall be determined by the secretary of administration and finance, and such license shall expire on November thirtieth following the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked. The department of food and agriculture may make rules and regulations governing the issuance and revocation of such licenses, and relative to matters relating to this section including, but not limited to, record-keeping, facility maintenance, animal identification, animal health and methods and times for inspecting and checking animals.

SECTION 6. Chapter 148 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 12, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 12. No building shall be used for the manufacturing of fireworks or firecrackers without a license from the local licensing authority. No building or structure shall be used for the manufacturing or storage of explosive materials without a permit issued by the marshal. Any person who has applied for or has been issued such a permit by the marshal, shall be deemed to have consented to periodic administrative inspections by the marshal or his designees of any building, structure, magazine or facility used to store such explosive materials or any records relating thereto. No person shall sell, transfer or exchange explosive materials within the commonwealth to any other person unless: (1) said transferee possesses the proper permit or certificate to possess, receive or store explosive materials; and (2) said transferee maintains, at the place of delivery, an approved, permitted, explosive storage magazine or bunker. Any information, data or record maintained by the marshal or his agents or designees, in any form, relative to the amount, location or nature of explosive material within the commonwealth, shall not be considered a public record, as defined in clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4. Such exception from the definition of "Public records" shall not preclude the release of such information to law enforcement personnel.

As used in this section, the words "explosive materials", "fireworks" and "firecrackers" shall be defined by the board pursuant to its authority as provided by section 9. The board shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section, including strict record keeping requirements. Any person who violates this section shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2> years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

SECTION 7. Said section 102A½ of said chapter 266, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "device", in line 3, the following words:- or hoax substance.

SECTION 8. Paragraph (b) of said section 102A½ of said chapter 266, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence:- For the purposes of this section, the words "hoax substance" shall mean any substance that would cause a person reasonably to believe that such substance is a harmful chemical or biological agent, a poison, a harmful radioactive substance or any other substance for causing serious bodily injury, endangering life or doing unusual damage to property, or both.

SECTION 9. Said section 102A½ of said chapter 266, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(d) The court shall, after a conviction, conduct a hearing to ascertain the extent of costs incurred, damages and financial loss suffered by local, county or state public safety agencies and the amount of property damage caused as a result of the violation of this section. A person found guilty of violating this section shall, in all cases, upon conviction, in addition to any other punishment, be ordered to make restitution to the local, county or state government for any costs incurred, damages and financial loss sustained as a result of the commission of the offense. Restitution shall be imposed in addition to incarceration or fine; however, the court shall consider the defendant's present and future ability to pay in its determinations regarding a fine. In determining the amount, time and method of payment of restitution, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the burden restitution will impose on the defendant.

SECTION 10. Said chapter 266 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 102B the following section:-

Section 102C. Whoever, without lawful authority, knowingly develops, produces, stockpiles, acquires, transports, possesses or uses any biological, chemical or nuclear weapon or delivery system, with the intent to cause death, bodily injury or property damage, or whoever has in his possession or under his control such an article, contrivance, device or substance, with said intent, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2> years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or by a fine of not more than $20,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Biological weapon", any microorganism, virus, infectious substance or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, except where intended for a purpose not prohibited under this section, specifically prepared in a manner to cause death, disease or other biological malfunction in a human, animal, plant, or another living organism, deterioration of food, water, equipment supplies or material of any kind, or deleterious alteration of the environment.

"Chemical weapon", a toxic chemical or its precursors, except where intended for a purpose not prohibited under this section as long as the type and quantity is consistent with such a purpose, a munition or device, specifically designed to cause death or other harm through toxic properties of those toxic chemicals which would be released as a result of the employment of such munition or device.

"Nuclear weapon", a device designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level, which can cause bodily harm, or a dangerous radioactive substance.

"Delivery system", any equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

SECTION 11. Chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 12E the following section:-

Section 12F. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Airplane", an aircraft operated by an air carrier holding a certificate issued under 49 U.S.C. 41101 or any aircraft ordinarily used to transport passengers or cargo for hire.

"Cutting device", any knife, cutlery, straight razor, box cutter or other device containing a fixed, folding or retractable blade, which is not included in the list of weapons set forth in paragraph (b) of section 10.

"Prohibited weapon", any infernal machine as defined in section 102A of chapter 266, any stun gun as defined in section 131J of chapter 140, any rifle, shotgun or firearm as defined in section 121 of chapter 140 or any weapon included in the list of weapons set forth in paragraph (b) of section 10.

"Secure area", any area of an airport to which access is restricted through security measures by the airport authority or a public agency and the area beyond a passenger or property screening checkpoint at an airport.

"Airplane cabin", any passenger or flight crew area within an airplane while the airplane is on the ground in the commonwealth or over the commonwealth.

(b) Whoever occupies, or attempts to enter or occupy, a secure area of an airport or the cabin of an airplane, knowingly having in his possession or in his control and knowingly concealing, a cutting device or a prohibited weapon, notwithstanding any license to possess such a weapon or device, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2> years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) Whoever, with intent to commit a felony, occupies, or attempts to enter or occupy, a secure area of an airport or the cabin of an airplane knowingly having in his possession or in his control a cutting device or a prohibited weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(d) Whoever, with intent to commit a felony, places, attempts to place or attempts to have placed within a secure area of an airport or the cabin of an airplane, a prohibited weapon or cutting device, notwithstanding any license to possess such a weapon or device, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(e) Whoever willfully and without regard for the safety of human life, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, violates subsection (b), (c) or (d) shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or by a fine of not more than $20,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(f) This section shall not apply to:-

(1) any law enforcement officer of a state or political subdivision of a state, an officer or employee of the United States government or United States military personnel authorized to carry prohibited weapons or cutting devices in an official capacity;

(2) a duly licensed individual transporting an unloaded, lawful weapon or cutting device in baggage not accessible to a passenger in flight and, in the case of a lawful weapon, if the air carrier was informed of the presence of the weapon;

(3) a cutting device, which is otherwise lawfully possessed, ordinarily used in the course of the holder's employment, trade or occupation, while the holder is authorized to conduct such employment, trade or occupation within a secure area of an airport or airplane cabin.

SECTION 12. Said chapter 269 is hereby further amended by striking out section 14, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 14. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Hijack", to commandeer or to take control without authority.

"School", any public or private preschool, headstart facility, elementary, vocational or secondary school, college or university.

"Serious bodily injury", bodily injury which results in a permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of a bodily function, limb or organ, or substantial risk of death.

(b) Whoever willfully communicates or causes to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, orally, in writing, by mail, by use of a telephone or telecommunication device including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications and facsimile communications, through an electronic communication device or by any other means, a threat:-

(1) that a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or assault weapon, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, an explosive or incendiary device, a dangerous chemical or biological agent, a poison, a harmful radioactive substance or any other device, substance or item capable of causing death, serious bodily injury or substantial property damage, will be used at a place or location, or is present or will be present at a place or location, whether or not the same is in fact used or present; or

(2) to hijack an aircraft, ship, or common carrier thereby causing anxiety, unrest, fear, or personal discomfort to any person or group of persons shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2> years, or by fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) Whoever willfully communicates or causes to be communicated such a threat thereby causing either the evacuation or serious disruption of a school, school related event, school transportation, or a dwelling, building, place of assembly, facility or public transport, or an aircraft, ship or common carrier, or willfully communicates or causes serious public inconvenience or alarm, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 3 years nor more than 20 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 6 months nor more than 2½ years, or by fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $50,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(d) The court shall, after conviction, conduct a hearing to ascertain the extent of costs incurred, damages and financial loss suffered by an individual, public or private entity and the amount of property damage caused as a result of the defendant's crime. A person found guilty of violating this section shall, in all cases, in addition to any other punishment, be ordered to make restitution to the individual, public or private entity for any costs incurred, damages and financial loss sustained as a result of the commission of the crime. Restitution shall be imposed in addition to incarceration or fine, and not in lieu thereof, however, the court shall consider the defendant's present and future ability to pay in its determinations regarding a fine. In determining the amount, time and method of payment of restitution, the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant and the burden restitution will impose on the defendant.

(e) Nothing in this section shall authorize the criminal prosecution of picketing, public demonstrations or other similar forms of expressing views.

Approved September 5, 2002.