Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S11 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1377 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 11
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
12	12	proposal for constitutional amendment:
13	13	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution for term renewal process.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit N, Winchester MA
17	17	01890 1 of 2
18	18	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1377 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
19	19	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 11
20	20	By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by proposal, Senate, No. 11) of Vincent
21	21	Lawrence Dixon for a legislative amendment to the Constitution for term renewal process. The
22	22	Judiciary.
23	23	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
24	24	SEE SENATE, NO. 19 OF 2021-2022.]
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
28	28	(2023-2024)
29	29	_______________
30	30	Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution for term renewal process.
31	31	A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in
32	32	joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the
33	33	following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if
34	34	similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the
35	35	state election next following]:
36	36	ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
37	37	1 1.)The Constitution of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is hereby, and thus
38	38	2amended, to provide for the renewal of terms for judges, and other selected appointed officials,
39	39	3every ten years, by specific process of reappointment by the Governor, and reconfirmation by the
40	40	4 Honorable Governor’s Council, according to normal processes.
41	41	5 2.)The quality of justice, and that of judges, and similar officials, being a public policy
42	42	6concern of all persons of Massachusetts, this provision, respecting the continuing evolution of 2 of 2
43	43	7our legal systems; therefore these provisions are constructed, to secure those qualities, and the
44	44	8continued monitoring, and current updating, of those officials entrusted to such responsibilities.
45	45	9 3.)All appointments of judges, members of the Industrial Accident Board, and any other
46	46	10appointments, subject to appointment by the Governor of The Commonwealth, and affirmation,
47	47	11or confirmation, by the Governor’s Council, shall expire at the end of ten (10) years, subject to
48	48	12the proper qualification of their successors.
49	49	13 4.)Such individuals may be reappointed by the Governor, may be reviewed by such other
50	50	14review and vetting processes as are appropriate, and must be reaffirmed, or reconfirmed, by the
51	51	15Governor’s Council. No individual subject to reappointment, may serve in an active role, more
52	52	16 than six (6) months beyond their stipulated ten (10) years, without the completion of their
53	53	17renewed qualification process, by such Term Renewal provisions.