Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a new law on February 13, 2020 which gives more protections to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Chapter 19 of the Acts of 2020 establishes a registry for caretakers in Massachusetts who have been found to have caused serious physical …Continue Reading New Law Gives Added Protections for Persons with Disabilities
Under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44B section 8, real property conveyance documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds are subject to a Community Preservation Act surcharge. This law was amended by chapter 41 sections 29 and 30 of the Acts of 2019. Effective December 31, …Continue Reading Real Estate Recording Fees to be Increased
“One of the most serious problems with the trend toward exclusively researching legal material online – and in making certain legal resources available only electronically – is that in most states, there is no system or set of standards for how legal information should be …Continue Reading Access to Justice: Authentication as a Social Justice Issue
“Providing information online is integral to the conduct of state government in the 21st century. The ease and speed with which information can be created, updated, and distributed electronically, especially in contrast to the time required for the production of print materials, enables governments to …Continue Reading Ensuring Authenticity in the Massachusetts Code
An Act to Protect Access to Confidential Healthcare (known as the “PATCH Act“) was recently passed in Massachusetts. Its purpose is to protect the privacy of health insurance information. Currently health insurance companies send a summary or “explanation of benefits” showing the type of health care services …Continue Reading Privacy protection of health insurance information
Since Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question legalizing recreational use of marijuana in 2016, the State legislature has been working on rewriting the marijuana laws. A major amendment was signed into law on July 28, 2017. The legislation is called “An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana.” (Chapter 55 of the Acts of …Continue Reading Marijuana law approved
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was signed into law by Governor Baker on July 27, 2017. Chapter 54 of the Acts of 2017 grants more protections against discrimination to pregnant workers in Massachusetts. Specifically the law prohibits an employer from denying a reasonable request for …Continue Reading Pregnant workers gain more protections in Massachusetts
Here is a selected list of statutes that became effective on January 1, 2017. M.G.L. c. 40R, “Smart Growth Zoning and Housing Production.” Originally added by St. 2004, c. 149 § 92, M.G.L. c. 40R has been extensively revised. There are changes to § § 2-12 and …Continue Reading Massachusetts Laws Effective January 1, 2017
Tour companies offering sight-seeing via amphibious vehicles, commonly known as duck boats, are required to add safety features and regulations while tourists are aboard and traveling on public thoroughfares. Signed by Governor Charlie Baker last Thursday, December 8, the new law requires the vehicles, based …Continue Reading Duck boat bill signed to improve safety
On October 19, 2016, Governor Baker signed legislation to change the length of time evidence in sexual assault cases is preserved. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 41 sec. 97B was amended so that rape kits will be maintained for 15 years instead of 6 months and …Continue Reading Sexual assault evidence law changed
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