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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2073 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1665
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
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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 regulating access to the disclosure of certain police reports.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2073 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1665
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1665) of Sal N. DiDomenico
for legislation relative to the disclosure of certain police reports. Public Safety and Homeland
Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1503 OF 2023-2024.]
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 regulating access to the disclosure of certain police reports.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 97D, as
2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
3 Section 97D. Reports of rape or sexual assault or attempts to commit such offenses,
4reports of abuse committed by family or household members, as defined in section 1 of chapter
5209A, and communications between police officers and the victims of such offenses or abuse
6shall not be public records and shall be maintained by police departments in a manner that will
7ensure their confidentiality; provided, however, that these reports and communications shall be
8accessible at all reasonable times, upon written request, to: (i) the victim, the victim's attorney,
9other persons specifically authorized by the victim to obtain this information, prosecutors and (ii)
10victim-witness advocates, as defined in section 1 of chapter 258B, domestic violence victims' 2 of 2
11counselors, as defined in section 20K of chapter 233, and sexual assault counselors, as defined in
12section 20J of chapter 233, if this access is necessary in the performance of their duties, and shall
13be accessible at all reasonable times, upon written, telephonic, facsimile or electronic mail
14request, to: (iii) law enforcement officers, district attorneys, assistant district attorneys and
15officials authorized to admit persons to bail under section 57 of chapter 276.
16 If a police department receives a request from an advocate or counselor not known to be
17specifically authorized to obtain this information, it shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the
18victim.
19 A violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or
20by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both."