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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3343 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1421
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Tackey Chan
_________________
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 assist the investigation of serious crimes.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tackey Chan2nd Norfolk1/19/2023Timothy CruzMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023Timothy ShugrueMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023Paul TuckerMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023Michael MorrisseyMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023David SullivanMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023Joseph EarlyMassachusetts District Attorneys
Association, 1 Bulfinch Place, Suite
202, Boston, MA 02114
1/19/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3343 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1421
By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1421) of Tackey
Chan and others for legislation to assist the investigation of serious crimes. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1485 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to assist the investigation of serious crimes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1: Section 99 of chapter 272, as appearing in 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended in sub-section B.1 by striking, in lines 29 – 32, the definition of “wire communication”
3and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-
4 1. The term “transmitted communication” means any communication made in whole or in
5part through (i) the use of facilities which allow for the transmission of communications or (ii)
6the aid of wire, cable, wireless, electronic, digital, radio, electromagnetic, satellite, cellular,
7optical, or other like technological means in order to achieve a connection between a point of
8origin and a point of reception, regardless of whether or not such communication travels in part
9within a switching station or other like facility. The term “transmitted communication” shall
10also include: any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, photographs, videos, texts, sounds, 2 of 2
11data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by using a cellular telephone,
12Smartphone, personal data assistant or similar devices, but shall not include: (i) any
13communication made through a tone-only paging device; (ii) any communication from a tracking
14device, defined as an electronic or mechanical device which permits the tracking of movement of
15a person or object; or (iii) electronic funds transfer information stored by a financial institution in
16a communications system used for the electronic storage and transfer of funds.
17 SECTION 2: Section 99 of chapter 272, as so appearing, is further amended at line 77, in
18sub-section B.7 by adding at the end thereof, the following definition:-
19 The term “designated offense” shall also include, whether or not in connection with
20organized crime, (i) any homicide; (ii) any crime that involves the use, attempted use, or
21threatened use of force; (iii) any violation of the laws relating to controlled substances, as
22defined in chapter 94C; (iv) any crime that involves the use, sale, purchase, delivery, transport,
23or licensing of firearms; (v) human trafficking, as defined in sections 50 through 52 of chapter
24265; (vi) being an accessory to any of the offenses described in this sentence and conspiracy or
25attempt or solicitation to commit any of the offenses describes in this sentence.