Bill > H4396

This bill establishes a permanent Law Revision Commission in Massachusetts to systematically review and improve the state's laws. The commission will consist of 12 members, including legislative committee chairs, the attorney general, four attorneys appointed by legislative leaders, a representative from the District Attorneys Association, a representative from public counsel services, and four appointees by the governor (including a retired judge, two law school faculty members, and a legal historian). The commission's primary responsibilities include examining state laws and judicial decisions to identify outdated or problematic legal provisions, receiving recommendations from legal professional organizations, suggesting reforms to modernize laws, recommending the repeal of unconstitutional or implied-repeal statutes, evaluating the consolidation of session laws, and improving the accessibility of state laws, potentially through open-source software tools. The commission is required to meet at least four times annually and submit a comprehensive report with findings and proposed legislation at the end of each legislative session. The initial terms of commission members will be staggered, with some serving two-year terms, some three-year terms, and others four-year terms to ensure continuity and institutional knowledge.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on the Judiciary (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4396