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H2734 • 2025

An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees

An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees

Active

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

Sponsor
Christopher J. Worrell
Last action
2026-01-27
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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 to repeal pay-to-stay fees

An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2734) of Christopher J.
  • Worrell relative to deductions for costs associated with the care and accommodation of incarcerated individuals.
  • 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. 2026-01-27 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

  2. 2025-10-15 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  3. 2025-10-15 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:20 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  4. 2025-10-01 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  5. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

  6. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees
By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2734) of Christopher J. Worrell relative to deductions for costs associated with the care and accommodation of incarcerated individuals. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.2734

Section 1. Section 48A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after “superintendent may so expend any part or all of such money” the following words:- “However, the superintendent may not deduct from money earned by any inmate for room, board, or any living-related expenses.”

Section 2. The Department of Correction shall promulgate regulations pursuant to this section no later than 30 days after the enactment of this act.

Section 3. The amendment of Section 48A shall apply retroactively to all such deductions made from inmate earnings for room, board, or living-related expenses after January 1, 2020. Any such deductions that occurred prior to the enactment of this bill shall be refunded to the affected individuals.

Section 4. Section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the paragraph that begins with “The court may make an order for payment…” in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:- “The court may not make an order for payment by the child's parents or guardian from the child's property, or by any other person responsible for the care and support of said child, to the institution, department, division, organization or person furnishing care and support for said child.”

Section 4. The Juvenile Court shall immediately cease the issuance of payment orders for the care and support of delinquent youth upon the enactment of this act.

Section 5. The amendment of Section 58 shall apply retroactively to any youth for whom payment orders were issued after January 1, 2020. Any such payment orders shall be deemed void and any orders already fulfilled shall be refunded to the impacted youths or their families.

Section 6. The Commonwealth shall ensure that the costs associated with the care and accommodation of incarcerated individuals are not passed on to the individuals themselves or their families.

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