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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1584 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1479
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Barrett
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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 protecting inmate safety and the expenditure of state funds.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1584 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1479
By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1479) of Michael J. Barrett for
legislation to protect inmate safety and the expenditure of state funds. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1538 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 protecting inmate safety and the expenditure of state funds.
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, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section:-
3 Section 170. No inmate or prisoner placed in the custody of a sheriff shall be transported
4outside of the commonwealth for the purposes of labor or public or community service
5programming unless there exists a bona fide public health or safety emergency. If such a bona
6fide public health or safety emergency exists, the sheriff shall file a description of the purpose,
7the proposed mode of transportation, the estimated duration of the time to be spent outside of the
8commonwealth, the housing and security arrangements to be made during the proposed stay and
9the estimated cost of the entire undertaking with the secretary of administration and finance, the
10secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, the chairs of the joint committee 2 of 2
11on public safety and homeland security and the chairs of the senate and house committees on
12ways and means and shall obtain written approval from the secretary of administration and
13finance and the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security prior to the
14commencement of said transport.