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S 1222

Relates to a review of reimbursement adequacy for early intervention services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 13 co-sponsors

Creates a new crime for damaging, removing, or disabling a court-ordered GPS device, with penalties up to 5 years in State Prison or 2.5 years in a House of Correction.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Summary · S 1222

Summary — S.1222 (2025): "An Act relative to GPS tampering"

Note: the bill text provided amends Massachusetts General Laws and concerns criminalizing tampering with court-ordered GPS tracking devices. (The initial metadata line referencing "early intervention services" appears to be an error or mismatch in the supplied materials.)

Purpose / Intent

To create a specific criminal offense for intentionally damaging, removing, modifying, deactivating, or attempting to do so to a GPS tracking device that a court has ordered an individual to wear as a condition of probation or pre-trial release.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 41 to Chapter 268 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Makes it a crime for any person who has been ordered by a court of the Commonwealth (or another court of competent jurisdiction) to wear a court-ordered GPS tracking device as a condition of probation or pre-trial release to:
    • Intentionally damage, remove, modify, or deactivate the GPS device; or
    • Attempt to damage, remove, modify, or deactivate the GPS device.
  • Specifies penalties for conviction:
    • Imprisonment in State Prison by no more than five years; or
    • Incarceration in the House of Correction for not more than two-and-one-half years.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals subject to court-ordered GPS monitoring (e.g., defendants on pre-trial release, persons on probation who are required to wear a GPS device).
  • Courts, probation and pre-trial supervision programs, and law enforcement agencies that monitor compliance.
  • Potentially jails/prisons (through additional misdemeanor/felony prosecutions and resulting incarcerations).

Procedural history / timeline (as provided)

  • Filed/Presented by Sen. Patrick M. O'Connor (petition also names Steven George Xiarhos).
  • Filed in Senate: 01/15/2025; introduced/read 04/01/2025.
  • Referred to The Judiciary (02/27/2025); later listed as read and referred to Ways and Means (06/06/2025).
  • Reported/committed to finance; amended (1222A) and passed the Senate on 06/06/2025; delivered to the House/Assembly 06/06/2025.
  • Hearings scheduled for 09/09/2025 (in-person and virtual) per the record.

Notes / considerations

  • The text creates a criminal penalty for both completed acts and attempts; it does not expressly provide exceptions (for example, medical emergency or disability-related removal), definitions (e.g., “modify”), or grading of the offense beyond the specified incarceration ranges.
  • The drafting references both “a court of the Commonwealth” and “another Court of competent jurisdiction,” suggesting coverage of out‑of‑state court orders in some circumstances.
  • Given apparent inconsistencies in supplemental metadata (sponsor lists and initial title), readers should consult the official Massachusetts legislative website or the bill as enacted for authoritative details and any subsequent amendments.

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

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