By Mr. Ayers of Quincy, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 390) of Bruce J. Ayers for legislation to allow local housing authorities access to criminal records of tenants and prospective tenants.  Education.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Bruce J. Ayers

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act allowing local housing authorities access to criminal and other records of tenants and prospective tenants.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (a) the following new paragraph:—
(b) Local housing authorities are allowed access to criminal offender records information that indicates the arrest and conviction records and any tenants and prospective tenants. Such local housing authorities shall also have access to all information relative to any pending criminal charges, restraining orders in effect or previously in effect and any protective or custody actions taken against such tenants or prospective tenants by the department of social services. Nothing in this act shall be construed as an infringement on personal privacy and in no case shall a local housing authority be responsible for any liability arising from the access and use of the aforesaid records for the purpose of evaluating tenants or prospective tenants and their suitability for housing under the jurisdiction of the authority.