Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2734 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. 4086 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2734
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Christopher J. Worrell
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 repeal pay-to-stay fees.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christopher J. Worrell5th Suffolk1/17/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4086 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2734
18	18	By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2734) of
19	19	Christopher J. Worrell relative to deductions for costs associated with the care and
20	20	accommodation of incarcerated individuals. Public Safety and 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 repeal pay-to-stay fees.
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 48A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after “superintendent may so expend any part or
31	31	3all of such money” the following words:- “However, the superintendent may not deduct from
32	32	4money earned by any inmate for room, board, or any living-related expenses.”
33	33	5 Section 2. The Department of Correction shall promulgate regulations pursuant to this
34	34	6section no later than 30 days after the enactment of this act.
35	35	7 Section 3. The amendment of Section 48A shall apply retroactively to all such deductions
36	36	8made from inmate earnings for room, board, or living-related expenses after January 1, 2020.
37	37	9Any such deductions that occurred prior to the enactment of this bill shall be refunded to the
38	38	10affected individuals.
39	39	11 Section 4. Section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
40	40	12Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the paragraph that begins with “The court 2 of 2
41	41	13may make an order for payment…” in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-
42	42	14“The court may not make an order for payment by the child's parents or guardian from the child's
43	43	15property, or by any other person responsible for the care and support of said child, to the
44	44	16institution, department, division, organization or person furnishing care and support for said
45	45	17child.”
46	46	18 Section 4. The Juvenile Court shall immediately cease the issuance of payment orders for
47	47	19the care and support of delinquent youth upon the enactment of this act.
48	48	20 Section 5. The amendment of Section 58 shall apply retroactively to any youth for whom
49	49	21payment orders were issued after January 1, 2020. Any such payment orders shall be deemed
50	50	22void and any orders already fulfilled shall be refunded to the impacted youths or their families.
51	51	23 Section 6. The Commonwealth shall ensure that the costs associated with the care and
52	52	24accommodation of incarcerated individuals are not passed on to the individuals themselves or
53	53	25their families.