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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1283 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1772
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
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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 possession of a dangerous weapon.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth1/18/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/26/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester1/31/2023David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth2/9/2023Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable2/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1283 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1772
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
1772) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida and others relative to penalties for possession of
dangerous weapons by persons in the custody of certain correctional facilities. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1881 OF 2021-2022.]
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 possession of a dangerous weapon.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38B the
2following section:-
3 Section 38B ½. (a) For purposes of this section, the word “dangerous weapon” shall
4include any weapon or object, including an object that is custom or homemade, which is
5designed or intended to be used as a weapon.
6 (b) Any person in the custody of a correctional facility, including any jail, house of
7correction, trial court detention facility or state prison, who possesses a dangerous weapon shall
8be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or in the house of
9correction for not more than 2 ½ years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine 2 of 2
10and imprisonment. Such sentence shall begin from and after all sentences currently outstanding
11and unserved at the time the person commits the violation of this section.