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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1119 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1135
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
_________________
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 authorizing electronic signatures for criminal complaints.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1119 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1135
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1135) of Patricia D. Jehlen relative
to authorizing electronic signatures for criminal complaints. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1490 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to authorizing electronic signatures for criminal complaints.
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 22 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “subscribed”, in line 4, the
3words:- , electronically or in person
4 SECTION 2. Section 22 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
5Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 7, the following words after the word
6“Procedure.”:- If a complaint is submitted electronically by the complainant, the complainant, if
7a law enforcement officer, may, in lieu of being examined on oath by justice, subscribe to the
8complaint under the pains and penalties of perjury. 2 of 2
9 SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 275 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
10Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “subscribed”, in line 5, the
11words:- , electronically or in person
12 SECTION 4. Section 2 of chapter 275 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
13Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 5, the flowing words after the word
14“complainant.”:- If a complaint is submitted electronically by the complainant, the complainant,
15if a law enforcement officer, may, in lieu of being examined on oath by such court or a justice,
16subscribe to the complaint under the pains and penalties of perjury.