Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2702 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4191 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2702
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael J. Soter
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to protect correctional officers.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	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
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4191 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2702
18	18	By Representative Soter of Bellingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2702) of
19	19	Michael J. Soter and others for legislation to protect correctional officers. Public Safety and
20	20	Homeland Security.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to protect correctional officers.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 38B of Chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection b and inserting in place thereof the
31	31	3following subsection:-
32	32	4 “(b) Any person in the custody of a correctional facility, including any jail, house of
33	33	5correction, trial court detention facility or state prison, who commits an assault or an assault and
34	34	6battery upon an officer or other employee, any volunteer or employee of a contractor in any such
35	35	7facility or any duly authorized officer or other employee of any such facility engaged in the
36	36	8transportation of a prisoner for any lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not
37	37	9less than 5 years in a jail or house of correction or for not more than 10 years in a state prison.
38	38	10Such sentence shall begin from and after all sentences currently outstanding and unserved at the
39	39	11time of said assault or assault and battery.” 2 of 3
40	40	12 SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
41	41	13Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of "Narcotic drug" the
42	42	14following definition:
43	43	15 “Synthetic Cannabinoids, A class of synthetic chemical compounds that are designed to
44	44	16mimic the effects of cannabis. Synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed on plant material and
45	45	17consumed as a smokable substance or can be found in other forms.
46	46	18 SECTION 3. Section 31 of Chapter 94C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting
47	47	19after “(32) 3,4–methylenedioxy–N–ethylcathinone” the following:-
48	48	20 (33) synthetic cannabinoids, including K2 or Spice
49	49	21 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any employee
50	50	22who is injured or becomes ill due to exposure to synthetic cannabinoids (K2) in the course of
51	51	23their employment, including but not limited to correctional officers, first responders, healthcare
52	52	24professionals, and other workers who may come into contact with K2 in the workplace, shall be
53	53	25eligible for medical leave under the Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Act pursuant to
54	54	26Chapter 175M of the General Laws. Individuals who are exposed to K2 and suffer from any
55	55	27related medical condition shall be eligible for workers' compensation or disability benefits and
56	56	28may apply for Industrial Accident Leave and continue to receive coverage under the Group
57	57	29Insurance Commission health insurance plan during their recovery period. Employees who are
58	58	30affected by K2 exposure and are unable to work shall retain eligibility for health insurance under
59	59	31the GIC without interruption while awaiting final determination of their disability leave status.
60	60	32The individual shall exhaust all short-term disability benefits from other insurance agencies
61	61	33before utilizing medical leave benefits provided pursuant to Chapter 175M of the General Laws. 3 of 3
62	62	34 SECTION 5. The Commissioner of Corrections, in conjunction with the Secretary of
63	63	35Public Safety and Security, shall develop and implement a system to improve the exchange of
64	64	36inmate information between county jails and correctional facilities. This system shall facilitate
65	65	37the sharing of live, real-time data on inmates’ histories, classifications, medical records, and
66	66	38criminal backgrounds. The Department of Corrections shall develop and implement protocols for
67	67	39receiving and utilizing this information to expedite the classification and intake process, ensuring
68	68	40that inmates are classified and placed in appropriate correctional facilities more efficiently.
69	69	41 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect on the first day of the month following 180 days
70	70	42after passage.