MA H1516

Bill

Relative to a person’s failure to appear in court due to enrollment in rehabilitation or detoxification facility

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/22/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to the failure to appear in court due to enrollment in rehabilitation or detoxification facilities. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill amends the General Laws of Massachusetts to provide relief for individuals who fail to appear in court due to their active enrollment in an inpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation or detoxification facility. The key provisions are: 1. No warrant or capias (a type of arrest warrant) shall be issued for the arrest of a person who fails to appear at a civil or criminal proceeding due to their active enrollment in such a facility, provided they submit verification of their enrollment to the court prior to the proceeding and request a new court date. The court shall then schedule a new date after the person's scheduled release from the facility. 2. Failure to appear for the reasons outlined in this bill shall not be considered contempt of court. 3. For the purposes of Section 26 of Chapter 276, which deals with summoning persons to court, it shall be deemed "reasonable cause" if the person was unable to appear due to their active enrollment in a rehabilitation or detoxification facility, as verified by the facility. 4. For the purposes of Section 82A of Chapter 276, which deals with sufficient excuse for failure to appear, it shall be deemed a sufficient excuse if the person was unable to appear due to their active enrollment in a rehabilitation or detoxification facility, as verified by the facility.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (3)

Mindy Domb (D), Tami Gouveia (D), Christina Minicucci (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H5081 (on 11/12/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1516

(12 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1516
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1516.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1376	Permitting persons to bring car damage arising from a pothole against the public entity into small claims court	Accompanied a study order, see H5081	Similar To
H2715	Relative to the opening meeting law	Accompanied a study order, see H5103	Similar To
H3319	Resolutions requesting the Governor (with consent of the council) to remove Susan L. Jacobs from the office of Associate Justice of the Bristol Probate and Family Court of Bristol County	Accompanied a study order, see H5081	Similar To
H3439	Relative to financial records of defendants in small claims court	Accompanied a study order, see H5081	Similar To
H3477	Relative to testimony in OUI alcohol cases	Accompanied a study order, see H5081	Similar To
H5081	Study Order	Discharged to the committee on House Rules	Replaced by
S2237	Establishing a sick leave bank for Peter Ferony, an employee of the Massachusetts Trial Court	Signed by the Governor, Chapter 38 of the Acts of 2019	Similar To
S837	Providing indemnity from prosecution for probation officers and court officers employed by the Trial Court	Accompanied a study order, see S2496	Similar To
S853	Regarding district court jurisdiction of threats to use deadly weapons, explosives, chemical or biological agents, or other devices or substances capable of causing death, serious bodily injury or substantial property damage	Accompanied a study order, see S2496	Similar To
S881	Relative to the compensation of a guardian ad litem in a contempt action	Accompanied a study order, see S2496	Similar To
S919	Relative to a person’s failure to appear in court due to enrollment in rehabilitation or detoxification facility	Accompanied a study order, see S2496	Similar To
S969	Relative to visitation and family court matters in domestic violence cases	Accompanied a study order, see S2496	Similar To

Bill > H1516

MA H1516

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

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