The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
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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 passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act allowing local housing authorities access to criminal and other records of tenants and prospective tenants.
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PETITION OF:
Name: |
District/Address: |
Bruce J. Ayers |
1st Norfolk |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 390 OF .]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
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An Act allowing local housing authorities access to criminal and other records of tenants and prospective tenants.
Be
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section
6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition,
is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (a) the following new
paragraph:—
(b) Local housing authorities are allowed access to criminal offender records
information that indicates the arrest and conviction records and any tenants
and prospective tenants. Such local housing authorities shall also have access
to all information relative to any pending criminal charges, restraining orders
in effect or previously in effect and any protective or custody actions taken
against such tenants or prospective tenants by the department of social
services. Nothing in this act shall be construed as an infringement on personal
privacy and in no case shall a local housing authority be responsible for any
liability arising from the access and use of the aforesaid records for the
purpose of evaluating tenants or prospective tenants and their suitability for
housing under the jurisdiction of the authority.