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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1760 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2634
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins
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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 sexual assault by an officer.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/30/2025Sally P. Kerans13th Essex2/10/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/11/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/12/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex3/4/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/6/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester3/6/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1760 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2634
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2634) of
Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to indecent assault and battery committed by law
enforcement officers. 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 sexual assault by an officer.
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 13H½ of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the
22022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
3 For the purposes of this section, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising
4a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a
5person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a
6person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be
7exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting
8under color of law.
9 For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of
10serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to
11cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or
12physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 2. Section 22 of said Chapter 265, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
14inserting after the first sentence the following:-
15 For the purposes of this subsection, “control” shall include, but not be limited to,
16supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program;
17interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power
18to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power
19could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or
20influence while acting under color of law.
21 For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of
22serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to
23cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or
24physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
25 SECTION 3. Each law enforcement agency shall create, within 180 from the passage of
26this bill, a policy that prohibits law enforcement officers from knowingly and willingly engaging
27in sexual contact with the suspect of a criminal investigation of prostitution during the course of
28an investigation conducted by that officer. The policy shall be posted and made publicly
29available.