Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2064 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. 390 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2064
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Rebecca L. Rausch
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 bill:
12	12	An Act extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and MiddlesexDavid Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/30/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/28/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/28/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 390 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2064
18	18	By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2064) of Rebecca L. Rausch, David
19	19	Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, James B. Eldridge and Erika Uyterhoeven for legislation to extend the
20	20	public records law to the Governor and the Legislature. State Administration and Regulatory
21	21	Oversight.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
31	31	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 157, after the words “chapter 32” the
32	32	3following words:- , or by the general court, or by the office of the governor of the
33	33	4commonwealth.
34	34	5 SECTION 2. Said section 7 of chapter 4, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in
35	35	6paragraph twenty-sixth by inserting the following new subparagraphs:
36	36	7 (v) communications between a member of the general court, or such member’s employee,
37	37	8agent, or representative, and any constituent of such member; provided, however, that the
38	38	9communications reasonably relate to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining
39	39	10government-provided benefits or services or otherwise interacting with a state or federal agency;
40	40	11or 2 of 3
41	41	12 (w) communications, memoranda, drafts or other documents relating to developing
42	42	13policy positions of members of the general court or the governor of the commonwealth.
43	43	14 SECTION 3: Section 1A of chapter 66 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
44	44	15Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agencies and municipalities”, in
45	45	16each instance, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agencies, municipalities, the
46	46	17general court, and the governor.
47	47	18 SECTION 4: Said section 1A of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
48	48	19by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in lines 5-6 and inserting in place thereof the
49	49	20following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
50	50	21 SECTION 5: Section 6A of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
51	51	22striking out the words “agency and municipality”, in each instance, and inserting in place thereof
52	52	23the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, and the governor.
53	53	24 SECTION 6: Section 10 of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
54	54	25striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each instance, and inserting in place thereof
55	55	26the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
56	56	27 SECTION 7: Said section 10 of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
57	57	28by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each instance, and inserting in place
58	58	29thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
59	59	30 SECTION 8: Said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section
60	60	3118 and inserting in place thereof the following section: 3 of 3
61	61	32 Section 18. Declarations, affidavits and other papers filed by claimants in the office of
62	62	33the commissioner of veterans' services, or records kept by him for reference by the officials of
63	63	34his office, shall not be public records.
64	64	35 SECTION 9: The provisions of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.