By Mr. O'Flaherty of Chelsea, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1656) of Eugene L. O'Flaherty for legislation to authorize the assignment of counsel by certain courts prior to the imposition of a jail sentence.  The Judiciary.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Eugene L. O'Flaherty

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act allowing a court to appoint counsel before imposition of a jail sentence.

    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.  Chapter 211D as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out section 6 subsection b paragraph ii and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Said division shall be assigned to represent an indigent person who is before the probate and family court department or the housing court department in a contempt proceeding before the court imposes upon such person a jail or prison sentence or in such other counsel proceeding in said departments in which a person is entitled to be represented by counsel.