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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2026 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1579
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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2023Nicholas A. Boldyga3rd Hampden1/26/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth1/26/2023F. Jay Barrows1st Bristol1/26/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/31/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2026 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1579
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1579) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including
members of the General Court) to identify the annual costs of providing court-appointed counsel
for sex offender classification hearings. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. There is hereby established a commission to identify the annual costs of
2providing court-appointed counsel for sex offender classification hearings.
3 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of 14 members: the house and senate chairs
4of the joint committee on judiciary, one member of the committee to be appointed by the
5minority leader of the senate, and one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority
6leader of the house; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety and
7homeland security, one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the
8senate, and one member of the committee to be appointed by the minority leader of the house;
9two members appointed by the attorney general; two members to be appointed by the appointed
10by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; and two members appointed by the governor,
11with experience in classification hearing procedures. 2 of 2
12 SECTION 3. The commission shall measure the annual costs of providing counsel for sex
13offender classification hearings.
14 SECTION 4. The commission shall submit a report, including any draft legislation and
15regulations to the joint committee on transportation within 12 months of the enactment of this
16Act.