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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 212 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1808
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick Joseph Kearney
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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 maintaining the integrity of sex offender classifications.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth1/7/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 212 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1808
By Representative Kearney of Scituate, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1808) of
Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to reclassification of sex offenders by the Sex Offender Registry
Board. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1595 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act maintaining the integrity of sex offender classifications.
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 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
3 (3)(a) For offender-initiated motions for reclassification, the burden of proof shall be on
4the sex offender to show by clear and convincing evidence that his or her risk of re-offense and
5degree of dangerousness posed to the public have decreased following his or her final
6classification. In making this determination, the board may consider information used in prior
7classification decisions.