Establishes the "Hunger-Free Campus Act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 17 co-sponsors

Authorizes Berkshire County to have two first assistant clerks by updating Chapter 221, Sec. 4 and 10, boosting court staffing and improving processing for Berkshire cases.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Purpose

S.2637 is a short, targeted amendment to Massachusetts law that would increase the authorized number of first assistant clerks for Berkshire County courts. The intent is to expand court clerk staffing in Berkshire County by formally authorizing two assistant clerks where the statute currently lists other counties.

Key provisions

Amends Chapter 221 of the Massachusetts General Laws:

Section 4: Inserts “Berkshire” into the enumerated list (after “Barnstable”) in the first paragraph.
Section 10: After the existing text that reads “Barnstable, 2 assistant clerks”, inserts the text “Berkshire, 2 assistant clerks”.

Effect: Berkshire County would be explicitly authorized to have two first assistant clerks under the statutory listing that governs assistant clerk positions.

Who is affected

Directly affected: The Berkshire County court administration and staffing structure — specifically the positions of first assistant clerks (court clerks).

Indirectly affected: Local court operations, litigants, attorneys, and court users in Berkshire County who could see administrative/support benefits from added clerk capacity.

State budget/administration: Any additional positions may require appropriation or administrative action by the Trial Court or Executive Branch to fund/pay and to hire staff if the positions are newly filled.

Procedural / timeline information (as recorded)

Filed in the Senate docket: April 3, 2025.

Presented by Senator Paul W. Mark (Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin & Hampshire).

Legislative actions recorded (multiple entries in the legislative history):

Introduced in the Senate and read twice, with referrals to one or more committees (records show referrals to Rules, The Judiciary, and Higher Education at various dates).
Status in provided metadata: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Because the recorded legislative actions include multiple and partly-conflicting referrals and dates, consult the official Massachusetts Legislature website for the current, authoritative status and next steps (committee reports, votes, enactment).

Fiscal and practical impact

The bill does not include explicit funding. If the two assistant clerk positions are new or filled beyond current staffing, the Trial Court or Commonwealth would need to budget for salaries and associated costs.

Practically, increased clerk staffing could improve clerical processing, case flow, and customer service in Berkshire County courts.

Notes and data consistency

The supplied materials include inconsistent metadata (alternative titles, unrelated sponsors, and referral entries). The body text of S.2637 (Senate No. 2637) presented here is narrowly focused on adding Berkshire to statutory listings for assistant clerks. For final text, fiscal estimates, and official status, refer to the Massachusetts General Court's official bill page for S.2637.

Bill