Bills Sponsored by Rep. Leigh Davis

Amends a 1905 enactment to establish that Great Barrington fire district may supply any of the inhabitants of the town of Great Barrington with water for domestic and other purposes, upon such terms as the fire district may determine.

Amends GL 4:13 relative to legal notices required to be published in newspapers and electronic publications, to establish that for an online-only newspaper that does not maintain a print publication, publication on its own website and on a statewide website will satisfy the publication requirement of the statute.

Adds a new Section 13B¾ to GL Chapter 265, defining penalties for sexual assault by mandated reporters or other people in positions of trust, authority or supervision over a child; imposes a term of imprisonment for indecent assault and battery by a person in a position of trust or a mandated reporter, on a child between the ages of 14 and 18, of up to 10 years in a state prison, or up to 2½ years in a house of correction; imposes a mandatory minimum term of ten years in a state prison for indecent assault and battery by a person in a position of trust or a mandated reporter on a child under the age of 14; further details penalties for sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child between the ages of 16 and 18; prohibits continuing such cases without a finding or placing such cases on file; categorizes children under the age of 18 as unable to consent to any such conduct; regulates statutes of limitations for such offenses.

Adds a new Section 64 to GL Chapter 7 directing the Secretary of Administration and Finance to require that all departments, commissions, offices, boards, divisions, institutions or other agencies administering grant programs give preference to rural communities, particularly those that intend to use funds to regionalize or share services, and to grant applicants that serve rural communities; further directs said Secretary to require all such agencies to identify and inform rural communities of any discretionary grant programs and incentives for which such communities wishing to regionalize or share services could benefit from preferences under this section; defines rural communities as those with population densities of less than 500 persons per square mile.

Establishes a position for an honorary choreographer laureate of the commonwealth, to be appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates developed by a 5-member nominating committee.