Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1210 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 285 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1210
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael O. Moore
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 concerning the disclosure of the home address and home contact information of certain
13	13	public safety officials.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester 1 of 4
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 285 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1210
19	19	By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1210) of Michael O. Moore for
20	20	legislation relative to the disclosure of the home address and home contact information of certain
21	21	public safety officials. The Judiciary.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act concerning the disclosure of the home address and home contact information of certain
28	28	public safety officials.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. The General Laws are amended by inserting after chapter 93L the following
32	32	2chapter:-
33	33	3 CHAPTER 93M.
34	34	4 Section 1. Person, business, association prohibited from publishing certain information
35	35	5on the Internet.
36	36	6 a. (1) Upon notification pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, and not later than
37	37	710 business days following receipt thereof, a person, business, or association shall not disclose or
38	38	8re-disclose on the Internet or otherwise make available, the home address or unpublished home
39	39	9telephone number of any covered person, as defined in subsection d. of this section.
40	40	10 (2) An authorized person seeking to prohibit the disclosure of the home address or
41	41	11unpublished home telephone number of any covered person consistent with paragraph (1) of this 2 of 4
42	42	12subsection shall provide written notice to the person from whom they are seeking nondisclosure
43	43	13that they are an authorized person and requesting that the person cease the disclosure of the
44	44	14information and remove the protected information from the Internet or where otherwise made
45	45	15available.
46	46	16 (3) An immediate family member who has provided notice pursuant to paragraph (2) of
47	47	17this subsection and who no longer resides with the judicial officer, prosecutor, or law
48	48	18enforcement officer shall provide notice to that effect to the person, business, or association not
49	49	19later than 30 days from the date on which the immediate family member no longer resided with
50	50	20the judicial officer, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer.
51	51	21 b. A person, business, or association that violates subsection a(1) of this section shall be
52	52	22liable to the aggrieved person, who may bring a civil action in the Superior Court.
53	53	23 c. The court may award:
54	54	24 (1) actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $1,000
55	55	25for each violation of this section;
56	56	26 (2) punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard of the law;
57	57	27 (3) reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred; and
58	58	28 (4) any other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate.
59	59	29 d. For the purposes of this section: 3 of 4
60	60	30 “Authorized person” means a covered person or any of the following persons hereby
61	61	31authorized to submit or revoke a request for the redaction or nondisclosure of a home address on
62	62	32behalf of a covered person:
63	63	33 (1) on behalf of any federal judge, a designee of the United States Marshals Service or
64	64	34of the clerk of any United States District Court or Court of Appeals;
65	65	35 (2) on behalf of any state judge, the clerk of court for the applicable state court;
66	66	36 (3) on behalf of any covered person who is deceased or medically or psychologically
67	67	37incapacitated, a person acting on behalf of the covered person as a designated trustee, as an estate
68	68	38executor, or pursuant to a written power of attorney or other legal instrument; and
69	69	39 (4) on behalf of any immediate family member who is a minor and who is otherwise
70	70	40entitled to address redaction or nondisclosure pursuant to this section, the parent or legal
71	71	41guardian thereof.
72	72	42 “Covered person” means an active, formerly active, or retired judicial officer or law
73	73	43enforcement officer or prosecutor, and any immediate family member residing in the same
74	74	44household as such judicial officer, law enforcement officer, or prosecutor.
75	75	45 “Disclose” shall mean to solicit, sell, manufacture, give, provide, lend, trade, mail,
76	76	46deliver, transfer, post, publish, distribute, circulate, disseminate, present, exhibit, advertise or
77	77	47offer.
78	78	48 “Immediate family member” means a spouse, child, or parent of, or any other family
79	79	49member related by blood or by law to, an active, formerly active, or retired judicial officer or law 4 of 4
80	80	50enforcement officer or prosecutor and who resides in the same household as such judicial officer,
81	81	51prosecutor, or law enforcement officer.
82	82	52 “Person” shall not be construed to include in any capacity the custodian of a government
83	83	53record.
84	84	54 e. Nothing herein shall be construed to impose liability on the news media for failure to
85	85	55remove information from previously printed newspapers. As used in this subsection, “news
86	86	56media” means newspapers, magazines, press associations, news agencies, wire services, or other
87	87	57similar printed means of disseminating news to the general public.
88	88	58 SECTION 2. Compliance with the provisions of this act shall not be required until one
89	89	59year after the date of enactment, except that a person, business, or association may honor a
90	90	60request for redaction or nondisclosure, or revocation thereof, submitted by an authorized person
91	91	61prior thereto.