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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 390 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2064
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Rebecca L. Rausch
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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 extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.
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PETITION OF:
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
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 390 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2064
By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2064) of Rebecca L. Rausch, David
Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, James B. Eldridge and Erika Uyterhoeven for legislation to extend the
public records law to the Governor and the Legislature. State Administration and Regulatory
Oversight.
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 extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature.
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 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 157, after the words “chapter 32” the
3following words:- , or by the general court, or by the office of the governor of the
4commonwealth.
5 SECTION 2. Said section 7 of chapter 4, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in
6paragraph twenty-sixth by inserting the following new subparagraphs:
7 (v) communications between a member of the general court, or such member’s employee,
8agent, or representative, and any constituent of such member; provided, however, that the
9communications reasonably relate to a constituent’s request for assistance in obtaining
10government-provided benefits or services or otherwise interacting with a state or federal agency;
11or 2 of 3
12 (w) communications, memoranda, drafts or other documents relating to developing
13policy positions of members of the general court or the governor of the commonwealth.
14 SECTION 3: Section 1A of chapter 66 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
15Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “agencies and municipalities”, in
16each instance, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- agencies, municipalities, the
17general court, and the governor.
18 SECTION 4: Said section 1A of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
19by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in lines 5-6 and inserting in place thereof the
20following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
21 SECTION 5: Section 6A of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
22striking out the words “agency and municipality”, in each instance, and inserting in place thereof
23the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, and the governor.
24 SECTION 6: Section 10 of said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
25striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each instance, and inserting in place thereof
26the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
27 SECTION 7: Said section 10 of chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
28by striking out the words “agency or municipality” in each instance, and inserting in place
29thereof the following words:- agency, municipality, the general court, or the governor.
30 SECTION 8: Said chapter 66, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section
3118 and inserting in place thereof the following section: 3 of 3
32 Section 18. Declarations, affidavits and other papers filed by claimants in the office of
33the commissioner of veterans' services, or records kept by him for reference by the officials of
34his office, shall not be public records.
35 SECTION 9: The provisions of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2024.