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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3535 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2575
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Antonio F. D. Cabral
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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 relative to administering state and local agreements.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Antonio F. D. Cabral13th Bristol1/17/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex3/5/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3535 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2575
By Representative Cabral of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2575) of
Antonio F. D. Cabral and Christine P. Barber relative to law enforcement agreements to enforce
federal law. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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 relative to administering state and local agreements.
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. Chapter 37 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding the following section:
3 Section 27. Agreements to Enforce Federal Law
4 (a) Sheriffs and their employees may only perform functions pursuant to an agreement
5described in 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) if the costs of such performance, including employee
6compensation, are borne solely by the Federal government and there is a state statute explicitly
7authorizing such agreements.
8 (b) The Sheriff shall keep books, records and accounts of all activities under this section,
9which shall be open to inspection and shall be annually reported to the house and senate
10committees on ways and means, the joint committee on the judiciary and the joint committee on
11public safety and homeland security. Said book shall be a public record, as defined in clause 27
12of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws. 2 of 3
13 SECTION 2. Chapter 124 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
14adding the following section:
15 Section 11. Agreements to Enforce Federal Law.
16 (a) Any employee of the department of corrections, jail, houses of corrections, or other
17correctional institutions of the Commonwealth may only perform functions pursuant to an
18agreement described in 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) if the costs of such performance, including employee
19compensation, are borne solely by the Federal government and there is a state statute explicitly
20authorizing such agreements.
21 (b) The commissioner of correction shall keep books, records and accounts of all
22activities under this section, which shall be open to inspection and shall be annually reported to
23the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on the judiciary and
24the joint committee on public safety and homeland security. Said book shall be a public record,
25as defined in clause 27 of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws.
26 SECTION 3. Chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
27is hereby amended by inserting after Section 5O the following new sections:-
28 Section 5P.
29 (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
30 “Agreement”, any contract, agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other
31arrangement pursuant to Section 1357(g) of Title 8 of the United States Code. 3 of 3
32 "Law enforcement agency”, an agency in the Commonwealth charged with enforcement
33of state and municipal laws, including but not limited to municipal police departments, campus
34police departments, and Massachusetts State Police.
35 (b) The Commonwealth and any law enforcement agencies, municipalities, or other
36subdivisions and their employees may only perform functions pursuant to an agreement
37described in 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g) if the costs of such performance, including employee
38compensation, are borne solely by the Federal government and there is a state statute explicitly
39authorizing such agreements.
40 (c) The Attorney General may promulgate rules and regulations for purposes of
41implementing this section, including but not limited to keeping books, records and accounts of
42all activities under this section and said book shall be a public record, as defined in clause 27 of
43section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws.