Chapter 253, An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth

An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth Legislative History Memo

1. Procedural History and Bill Versions

• An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth – Acts of 2020 Chapter 253
• H4354
• H4367
• H4398
• H4860
• H4886
• S2800
• S2820
• S2963 (Final)
• S2981

2. Committee Documents

• Judiciary Committee Summaries
  • Reform, Shift and Build Act Fact Sheet
  • An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth Bill Summary
  • S2800 SWM Summary
• Senate Ways and Means
  • H4398 Summary
• Testimony – General
  • Written Testimony Collection 1 on S2800/2820
  • Written Testimony Collection 2 on S2800/2820
  • Written Testimony Collection 3 on S2800/2820
  • Written Testimony Collection 4 on S2800/2820
  • Written Testimony Collection 5 on S2800/2820
• Testimony – District Attorneys
  • Timothy Cruz (Plymouth District Attorney) Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – Local Elected Officials
  • Yvonne Spicer (Framingham Mayor) Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – Statewide Elected Officials
  • Governor Charlie Baker Testimony on S2820
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren Testimony on S2820
  • Auditor of the Commonwealth Suzanne Bump Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – State Legislators
  • Rep. Alyson M. Sullivan Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Bradley Jones Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Carolyn Dykema Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Christopher Markey Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Christine Barber Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. David Rogers Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Harold Naughton Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Jim Hawkins Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Joseph McKenna Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Kay Khan Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Ken Gordon Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Liz Miranda Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Marc T. Lombardo Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Maria D. Robinson Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Marjorie C. Decker Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Mary S. Keefe Testimony on S2820
  • Senator Michael D. Brady Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Michael Soter Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Mindy Domb Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Natalie Higgins Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Nika Elugardo Testimony on S2820
  • Senator Paul R. Feeney Testimony on S2800
  • Rep. Ruth B. Balser Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Stephan Hay Testimony on S2820
  • Rep. Tami L. Gouveia Testimony on S2820
  • Senator Walter F. Timilty Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – Interest Groups
  • ACLU Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • ADL New England Testimony on S2820
  • YMCA Testimony on S2800
  • Allston Brighton Health Collaborative Testimony on S2820
  • American Friends Service Committee Testimony on S2820
  • Associations of Chiefs of Police State Universities of Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • Barnstable County Fire Chiefs’ Association Testimony on Qualified Immunity
  • Benevolent Asian Jade Society of New England Testimony on S2820
  • Bristol County Chiefs of Police Association Testimony on S2820
  • Cape Cod and Islands Police Chiefs Association Testimony on S2820
  • Cape Cod Coalition for Safe Communities Testimony on S2820
  • Coalition for Smart Responses to Student Behavior Testimony on S2800
  • Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity Testimony on S2820
  • Electronic Frontier Foundation Testimony on H1538
  • Expungement Movement Testimony on S2820
  • Families for Justice as Healing Testimony on S2820
  • Fight for the Future Testimony on H1538
  • Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts Testimony on Qualified Immunity
  • Greater Boston Legal Services Testimony on S2820
  • Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action Testimony on S2820
  • Jewish Community Relations Council Testimony on S2820
  • Judge Baker Children’s Center Testimony
  • Justice Resource Institute Testimony on S2800
  • League of Women Voters Testimony on S2820
  • Legendary Legacies Testimony on S2800
  • Living in Freedom Together Testimony on S2820
  • Lowell Police Superior Officers Association Testimony on S2820
  • March For Our Lives Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Appleseed Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers Testimony on S2800
  • Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Charter Public School Association Testimony on Police Reform Legislation
  • Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Reform Coalition Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Coalition of Police Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Communities Action Network Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Latino Police Officers Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Law Enforcement Policy Group Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Testimony on Police Accountability Legislation
  • Massachusetts Municipal Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association and Boston Globe Media Partners Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Police Association Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association Testimony on S2820
  • More than Words Testimony on S2820
  • Mystic Valley Area Branch NAACP Testimony on S2820
  • NAACP, New England Area Conference Testimony on S2800
  • NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • National Association of Social Workers – Massachusetts Chapter Testimony on S2820
  • NAACP New Bedford Branch Testimony on S2800
  • New England Chapter of American Public Works Association Testimony on S2800
  • New North Citizens’ Council Testimony on S2800
  • North Shore Community College Police Department Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization of Women Testimony on S2800
  • Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund Testimony on S2820
  • Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • Progressive Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • Retired Judges Testimony on S2820
  • Roca Testimony on S2820
  • Security Industry Association Testimony on S2820
  • SkillWorks Testimony on S2820
  • Southeastern Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association Testimony on S2820
  • Stop Handgun Violence Testimony on S2820
  • Straight Ahead Ministries Testimony on S2800
  • Strategies for Youth Testimony on S2820
  • Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Testimony on H1538
  • Teens in Everett Against Substance Abuse Testimony on S2800
  • Teens Leading The Way Testimony on S2820
  • UTEC Testimony 1 on S2800
  • UTEC Testimony 2 on S2800
  • UTEC Testimony 3 on S2800
  • UTEC Testimony 4 on S2800
  • UTEC Testimony 5 on S2800
  • UTEC Testimony on S2820
  • Worcester Community Action Council Testimony on S2800
  • Worcester Interfaith Testimony on S2800
  • Worcester Interfaith Testimony on S2820
  • Worcester NAACP Testimony on S2820
  • Workforce Solutions Group Testimony on S2800
  • Black Caucus of the Young Democrats of Massachusetts Testimony on S2800
  • Young People’s Project Testimony on S2800
  • YWCA Lowell Testimony on S2800
• Testimony – Unions
  • AFSCME Council 93 Testimony on S2820
  • AFSCME Local 419 Testimony on S2820
  • Boston Carmen’s Union Local Division 589 Testimony on 2820
  • Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Testimony on S2820
  • Boston Public Library Professional Staff Association MSLA Local 4928 Testimony on H1538
  • Hanson Police Association Testimony on S2820
  • Local 364, International Brotherhood of Police Officers Testimony on S2820
  • International Brotherhood of Police Officers Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers Union Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts AFL-CIO Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Teachers Association on S2820
  • NEPBA Local 185 Testimony on S2820
  • New England Police Benevolent Association Testimony on S2820
  • Professional Firefighters of Attleboro Local 848 Testimony on 2820
  • Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts Testimony
  • Somerset Police Officers’ Union Testimony on S2800
  • State Police Association of Massachusetts Testimony on S2820
  • UAW Local 2322 Testimony on S2820
  • Winthrop Police Union MCOP Local 421 Testimony on S2820
  • Worcester Fire Fighters Local 1009 Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – Police Chiefs
  • Agawam Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Amesbury Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Ashfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Attleboro Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Belchertown Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Bellingham Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Berklee Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Blackstone Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Bolton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Bourne Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Boxborough Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Brewster Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Bridgewater Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Bristol Community College Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Burlington Police Captain Testimony on S2820
  • Carver Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Charlton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Concord Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Cummington Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Danvers Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Dedham Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Douglas Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Dover Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Easton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Essex Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Everett Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Fairhaven Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Fitchburg Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Gardner Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Georgetown Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Grafton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Groton, Pepperell, Ayer, Ashby, Dunstable, Townsend Police Chief Testimony
  • Hadley Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Hamilton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Hanson Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Hatfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Holliston Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Hudson Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Kingston Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Lakeville Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Lancaster Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Lenox Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Lunenburg Police Lieutenant Testimony on S2820
  • Mansfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Marion Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Marshfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Maynard Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Merrimac Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Methuen Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Middleborough Police Chief Testimony on S2800
  • Middleton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Milford Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Montague Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Nahant Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Newburyport City Marshal Testimony on S2820
  • North Andover Police Lieutenant Testimony on S2820
  • Northbridge Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Northern Essex Community College Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Norton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Oxford Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Palmer Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Pembroke Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Petersham Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Pittsfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Rowley Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Salem Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Salisbury Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Shrewsbury Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • South Hadley Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Southbridge Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Spencer Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Springfield Technical Community College Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Springfield Police Commissioner Testimony on S2820
  • Sudbury Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Sutton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Swansea Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Taunton Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Topsfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Uxbridge Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Ware Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Watertown Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Wellesley Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • West Bridgewater Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • West Brookfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • West Springfield Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Westborough Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Westford Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Whitman Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Williamsburg Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Winthrop Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Woburn Police Chief Testimony on S2820
  • Yarmouth Police Chief Testimony on S2820
• Testimony – Miscellaneous
  • Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice at Harvard Law School Testimony on S2820
  • College Bound Dorchester Testimony on S2800
  • MassINC Testimony on S2820
  • Metropolitan Area Planning Council Testimony on S2820
  • Myrtle Baptist Church of West Newton Testimony on S2820
  • Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate Testimony on S2800
•  Miscellaneous
  • Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten, LLP S2800 Legal Opinion
  • Senator Jason Lewis Press Release: More Information on the Reform, Shift + Build Act & Qualified Immunity

3. Floor Documents & Conference Committee Documents

• House Vote – S2820 on Engrossment
• Senate Roll Call 212 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 213 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 214 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 215 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 216 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 217 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 218 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 220 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 221 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 222 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 223 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 225 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 226 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 227 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 228 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 229 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 230 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 231 – S2800 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 232 – S2800 Question on sustaining the ruling of the Chair
• Senate Roll Call 233 – S2800 Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
• Senate Roll Call 300 – S2963 Question on acceptance of conference committee report
• Senate Roll Call 301 – S2963 Question on adoption of an Emergency Preamble
• Senate Roll Call 310 – S2963 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 311 – S2963 Question on adoption of the amendment
• Senate Roll Call 312 – S2963 Question on adoption of amendment recommended by the Governor
• MassTrac: Senate Floor Debate for S2963 on December 1, 2020
• MassTrac: Senate Floor Debate for S2800 on July 9, 2020, July 10, 2020, July 11, 2020, and July 13, 2020

4. Executive Action Documents

• Governor Baker Amendment Letter
• Governor Baker Signs Police Reform Legislation

5. Press Reports (links only)

• Gov. Baker Signs Landmark Policing Reform Law
• Committees Post Deluge Of Policing Bill Testimony Ahead Of Debate
• Opinion: Will Beacon Hill side with the people or police unions?
• Behind closed doors at State House, police reform stuck in neutral
• Why are police reforms stalled?
• Roll Call looks at pending work for Beacon Hill compromise committees
• Why Police Reform is Stalled on Beacon Hill
• Community leaders rally support for police reform legislation
• Advocates for Police Accountability Bill Want State Lawmakers to OK Legislation
• Black leaders call on Legislature to pass police reform bill
• Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker: ‘What happened to Breonna Taylor was a horrible, terrible tragedy;’ pushes police reform bill
• SJC lobbies lawmakers on police reform
• New State Police Overtime Abuse Underlines Need For Beacon Hill Action, Baker Says
• Charlie Baker takes aim at slow vetting of police reform bills on Beacon Hill
• Police reform bill held up in Massachusetts State House
• ‘I want this thing to land’: Rep. Russell Holmes is ready to start screaming again over police reform bill
• Protest-inspired cop-suing bill languishes in Legislature (opinion)
• Stalemate in Legislature on policing bill is a good thing (opinion)
• Why hasn’t the Mass. Legislature sent a police accountability bill to the governor?
• Addressing Differences in the House and Senate Bills on Police Reform
• State House News: Baker Signs Landmark Policing Reform Law
• State House News: Senate Votes for Police Reform Changes in Compromise with Baker
• State House News: With Veto Threat, Baker Seeks Policing Bill Changes
• State House News: Certification at Core of Policing Bill Compromise
• State House News: House Session Summary – 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. – Monday, July 27, 2020
• State House News: House Approves Policing Reform Bill on 93-66 Vote
• State House News: Baker Police Reform Bill Would Decertify “Bad Actors”
• State House News: Correction Officers Air Ads Supporting Police
• State House News: Black Leaders Look to Shape Closed-Door Police Reform Talks

View all posts