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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4191 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2702
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Soter
_________________
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 to protect correctional officers.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/17/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable2/4/2025Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.5th Worcester2/4/2025Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/6/2025John H. Rogers12th Norfolk2/18/2025David T. Vieira3rd Barnstable2/18/2025John J. Marsi6th Worcester2/18/2025Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk3/10/2025Kenneth P. Sweezey6th Plymouth3/10/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex3/10/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4191 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2702
By Representative Soter of Bellingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2702) of
Michael J. Soter and others for legislation to protect correctional 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 to protect correctional officers.
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 38B of Chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection b and inserting in place thereof the
3following subsection:-
4 “(b) Any person in the custody of a correctional facility, including any jail, house of
5correction, trial court detention facility or state prison, who commits an assault or an assault and
6battery upon an officer or other employee, any volunteer or employee of a contractor in any such
7facility or any duly authorized officer or other employee of any such facility engaged in the
8transportation of a prisoner for any lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not
9less than 5 years in a jail or house of correction or for not more than 10 years in a state prison.
10Such sentence shall begin from and after all sentences currently outstanding and unserved at the
11time of said assault or assault and battery.” 2 of 3
12 SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
13Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of "Narcotic drug" the
14following definition:
15 “Synthetic Cannabinoids, A class of synthetic chemical compounds that are designed to
16mimic the effects of cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed on plant material and
17consumed as a smokable substance or can be found in other forms.
18 SECTION 3. Section 31 of Chapter 94C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting
19after “(32) 3,4–methylenedioxy–N–ethylcathinone” the following:-
20 (33) synthetic cannabinoids, including K2 or Spice
21 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any employee
22who is injured or becomes ill due to exposure to synthetic cannabinoids (K2) in the course of
23their employment, including but not limited to correctional officers, first responders, healthcare
24professionals, and other workers who may come into contact with K2 in the workplace, shall be
25eligible for medical leave under the Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Act pursuant to
26Chapter 175M of the General Laws. Individuals who are exposed to K2 and suffer from any
27related medical condition shall be eligible for workers' compensation or disability benefits and
28may apply for Industrial Accident Leave and continue to receive coverage under the Group
29Insurance Commission health insurance plan during their recovery period. Employees who are
30affected by K2 exposure and are unable to work shall retain eligibility for health insurance under
31the GIC without interruption while awaiting final determination of their disability leave status.
32The individual shall exhaust all short-term disability benefits from other insurance agencies
33before utilizing medical leave benefits provided pursuant to Chapter 175M of the General Laws. 3 of 3
34 SECTION 5. The Commissioner of Corrections, in conjunction with the Secretary of
35Public Safety and Security, shall develop and implement a system to improve the exchange of
36inmate information between county jails and correctional facilities. This system shall facilitate
37the sharing of live, real-time data on inmates’ histories, classifications, medical records, and
38criminal backgrounds. The Department of Corrections shall develop and implement protocols for
39receiving and utilizing this information to expedite the classification and intake process, ensuring
40that inmates are classified and placed in appropriate correctional facilities more efficiently.
41 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the month following 180 days
42after passage.