Beacon Hill News: Governor Signs Bills Into Law

Gov. Charlie Baker signed several bills into law this week including the following four:

FENTANYL TRAFFICKING (H 3755) - Creates the crime of trafficking the drug fentanyl in amounts greater than 10 grams and imposes a prison sentence of up to 20 years for those convicted of the crime. Under current law a person can only be charged with manufacturing, distributing or possessing fentanyl, but not with trafficking.

STOLEN VALOR (H 1641) - Makes it a crime for a person to misrepresent himself or herself as a veteran. Violators would be subject to a one-year prison sentence and/or a $1,000 fine.

FLAG HOLDERS (H 3173) - Makes it a crime to destroy, mutilate or deface an American flag, veteran's commemorative flag holder or a commemorative flag holder representing service in either the police or fire department. Offenders would be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

FREE ACCESS TO STATE PARKS FOR PURPLE HEART VETERANS (H 3243) - Provides Purple Heart recipients free access to state parks, state forest recreation areas and state reservations. Currently free access is provided for disabled veterans and handicapped persons.