An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Cosponsor |
|---|
| Carol A. Doherty |
| James K. Hawkins |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J10 | Accompanied | — |
Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof: No city or town shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, by-law, rule, or regulation under this section that imposes a monetary penalty or other sanction on homeless individuals solely for the act of trespassing, sleeping, or camping on public property. For the purposes of this section, 'homeless individual' shall mean a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Camping shall mean to sleep in a tent, under a tarp or canopy, in a motor vehicle, or in any other temporary outdoor shelter.
SECTION 1. Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof: No city or town shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, by-law, rule, or regulation under this section that imposes a monetary penalty or other sanction on homeless individuals solely for the act of trespassing, sleeping, or camping on public property. For the purposes of this section, 'homeless individual' shall mean a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Camping shall mean to sleep in a tent, under a tarp or canopy, in a motor vehicle, or in any other temporary outdoor shelter.