KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H2634 • 2025

An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer

An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Natalie M. Higgins
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5254 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer

An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2634) of Natalie M.
  • Higgins and others relative to indecent assault and battery committed by law enforcement officers.
  • Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-19 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5254 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-09-11 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  5. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to sexual assault by an officer
By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2634) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to indecent assault and battery committed by law enforcement officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.2634

SECTION 1. Section 13H½ of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-

For the purposes of this section, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.

For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.

SECTION 2. Section 22 of said Chapter 265, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-

For the purposes of this subsection, “control” shall include, but not be limited to, supervising a person under the age of 18 who is in a law enforcement training program; interacting with a person being questioned, investigated or detained; communicating the power to charge or arrest a person, whether explicitly or implicitly, regardless of whether such power could lawfully be exercised; or otherwise exercising or attempting to exercise coercion or influence while acting under color of law.

For the purposes of this section, “coercion” shall include, but not be limited to, threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.

SECTION 3. Each law enforcement agency shall create, within 180 from the passage of this bill, a policy that prohibits law enforcement officers from knowingly and willingly engaging in sexual contact with the suspect of a criminal investigation of prostitution during the course of an investigation conducted by that officer. The policy shall be posted and made publicly available.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close