The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John P. Fresolo

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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 concerning the disclosure of records involving citizen complaints and the discipline of public safety officers.

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PETITION OF:

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2306 OF 2007-2008.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act concerning the disclosure of records involving citizen complaints and the discipline of public safety officers.

                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
            Chapter four, section seven, clause twenty-sixth, of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting a new paragraph (n) as follows:—

 (n) records or information compiled or received as part of an internal investigation into the conduct of any public safety officer of the commonwealth or any political subdivision or authority thereof, including any related correspondence, notes, drafts, untranscribed audio tapes or reports recommending any form of discipline and any records or information indicating a specific level of discipline imposed on any individual officer; provided however, that any document submitted by a citizen concerning the conduct of any public safety officer shall be a public record so long as the name, address, telephone number, or any other information which might identify any person, including the complainant and any witnesses or public safety officer, are redacted therefrom. Records or information disclosing the specific disciplinary actions taken as the result of any such complaint or internal investigation shall be deemed to be personnel files or information under paragraph (c) hereof; provided however, that information disclosing whether or not any disciplinary action has been taken shall be a public record so long as the name, badge number, address, telephone number, or any other information which might identify the name or names of the officers involved are not disclosed.