MA H1988

Creates a commission to study and recommend policies on accessibility and privacy of sensitive information in court documents, reporting to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Chief Justice of the Trial Court, and Court Administrator

Commission membership includes 6 legislative appointees (with Senate and House Judiciary chairs serving as co-chairs), Secretary of Public Safety and Security, Chief Justice of the Trial Court, Court Administrator, and 2 gubernatorial appointees (experts on inter-partner violence and public records laws)

Additional members appointed from Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Mass Family Advocacy Coalition, Massachusetts Bar Association, and Jane Doe, Inc.

Sensitive information under review includes residential/mailing addresses, financial/banking information, Social Security numbers, medical information, children's names and birthdates, child custody terms, and child support amounts

Commission must determine whether such information should be accessible online or only through in-person courthouse requests, with final report due by January 1, 2026