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HD 1321

An Act relative to identifying costs associated with legal counsel for classification hearings

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kim Ferguson and 3 co-sponsors

Creates a 14-member commission to identify and report the annual cost of court-appointed counsel for sex offender classification hearings, guiding future funding.

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Bill Summary · HD 1321

Summary: An Act relative to identifying costs associated with legal counsel for classification hearings (HD 1321)

Overview

HD 1321 is a proposed Massachusetts bill intended to establish a special commission to identify the annual costs of providing court-appointed legal counsel for sex offender classification hearings. The bill creates a formal mechanism to quantify these costs and produces a report with potential legislation or regulatory recommendations.

Purpose and intent

  • To determine and quantify the annual cost of providing court-appointed counsel for sex offender classification hearings.
  • To inform future budgetary decisions and potential policy changes related to funding for defense counsel in these hearings.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Establishment of a commission. Creates a dedicated commission tasked with identifying the annual costs of providing court-appointed counsel for sex offender classification hearings.
  • Section 2: Commission composition (14 members).
    • House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Judiciary.
    • One member from each side (minority party) of the Senate and House leadership.
    • House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, with minority party appointees.
    • Two members appointed by the Attorney General.
    • Two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court.
    • Two members appointed by the Governor, with experience in classification hearing procedures.
  • Section 3: Responsibilities. The commission shall measure and report the annual costs associated with providing counsel in sex offender classification hearings.
  • Section 4: Reporting deadline. The commission must submit a report (including any draft legislation and regulations) to the Joint Committee on Transportation within 12 months of enactment. (Note: The reference to the Joint Committee on Transportation appears in the bill text and may reflect drafting alignment; typically such reports would go to a judiciary-focused committee.)

Who would be affected

  • Individuals undergoing sex offender classification hearings who would receive court-appointed counsel.
  • The Massachusetts court system and the relevant state agencies involved in appointing and funding counsel.
  • Attorneys and organizations that provide court-appointed representation.
  • State leaders and offices involved in judiciary and public safety policy (AG, SJC, Governor, and current leadership of the specified joint committees).

Procedural and timeline details

  • Status: Proposed bill (as of the provided text). Introduced in the 194th General Court (2025-2026) as House Docket No. 1321; filed January 14, 2025.
  • Timeline: The commission has 12 months from enactment to produce its report, including any recommended legislation and regulations.
  • Legislative path: Requires approval by the General Court to become law; the bill references collaboration with the judiciary and public safety bodies through its commissioned structure.

Context and notes

  • The bill references a similar measure from a prior session (House No. 1579 of 2023-2024), indicating ongoing interest in budgeting and policy clarity around counsel in classification hearings.
  • The text specifies a 14-member commission with balanced representation from legislative leadership, the Attorney General, the judiciary, and the Governor, aiming for broad, nonpartisan analysis.
  • No explicit appropriation is made in the bill; the primary output is a cost-identification report that could inform future funding decisions or legislation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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