An Act removing state funded counsel for sex offender classification hearings
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 6/11/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (a), in lines 26 through 28, inclusive, the words, “his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing and his right to have counsel appointed for him if he is found to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D; provided, however, that such indigent offender may also apply for and the board may grant payment of fees for an expert witness in any case where the board in its classification proceeding intends to rely on the testimony or report of an expert witness prepared specifically for the purposes of the classification proceeding.”, and inserting in place thereof the words: “and his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing.”
Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (c), in lines 65 through 73, inclusive, the words, “his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing and his right to have counsel appointed for him if he is found to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D; provided, however, that such indigent offender may also apply for and the board may grant payment of fees for an expert witness in any case where the board in its classification proceeding intends to rely on the testimony or report of an expert witness prepared specifically for the purposes of the classification proceeding.”, and inserting in place thereof the words:- “and his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing.”
Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking in subsection (2), in lines 84 through 87, inclusive, the sentence “The board shall inform offenders requesting a hearing under the provisions of subsection (1) of their right to have counsel appointed if a sex offender is deemed to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D.”
Section 178M of chapter 6, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the following, “The court shall, if requested, appoint counsel to represent the sex offender in the proceedings if such sex offender is deemed indigent in accordance with section 2 of chapter 211D.”
SECTION 1. Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (a), in lines 26 through 28, inclusive, the words, “his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing and his right to have counsel appointed for him if he is found to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D; provided, however, that such indigent offender may also apply for and the board may grant payment of fees for an expert witness in any case where the board in its classification proceeding intends to rely on the testimony or report of an expert witness prepared specifically for the purposes of the classification proceeding.”, and inserting in place thereof the words: “and his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing.” SECTION 2. Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking in paragraph (c), in lines 65 through 73, inclusive, the words, “his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing and his right to have counsel appointed for him if he is found to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D; provided, however, that such indigent offender may also apply for and the board may grant payment of fees for an expert witness in any case where the board in its classification proceeding intends to rely on the testimony or report of an expert witness prepared specifically for the purposes of the classification proceeding.”, and inserting in place thereof the words:- “and his right to retain counsel to represent him at such hearing.” SECTION 3. Section 178L of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking in subsection (2), in lines 84 through 87, inclusive, the sentence “The board shall inform offenders requesting a hearing under the provisions of subsection (1) of their right to have counsel appointed if a sex offender is deemed to be indigent as determined by the board using the standards under chapter 211D.” SECTION 4. Section 178M of chapter 6, as so appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the following, “The court shall, if requested, appoint counsel to represent the sex offender in the proceedings if such sex offender is deemed indigent in accordance with section 2 of chapter 211D.”