1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2297 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1645
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jay D. Livingstone
_________________
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 enhance the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jay D. Livingstone8th Suffolk1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2297 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1645
By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1645) of
Jay D. Livingstone relative to the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the
Commonwealth. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to enhance the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth.
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 20D of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the existing section and replacing it with the
3following paragraph:
4 A witness who is called or who may be called to testify before a grand jury or in a
5criminal proceeding in the supreme judicial court, appeals court, superior court, district court, or
6in a proceeding in the juvenile court, may, in the manner provided in section twenty E, be
7granted immunity in any proceeding or investigation involving a criminal offense.
8 SECTION 2. Section 20E(a) of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the
92015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words “or Superior Court” and
10replacing them with the words “Superior Court, District Court or Juvenile Court.”
11 SECTION 3. Section 20E(c) of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the
122015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words “or Superior Court” and 2 of 2
13replacing them with the words “Superior Court, District Court or Juvenile Court,” and by striking
14the words “in the superior court” at the conclusion of the subsection.