This bill amends Chapter 12-7 of the General Laws entitled "Arrest" to add a new section that limits civil arrests. Under this new section, except for a crime committed and witnessed in the immediate presence of a law enforcement officer, no person shall be arrested while in the act of seeking immediate access to the courts or a judicial proceeding. However, a person attending a court proceeding in which they are a party or potential witness, or a family or household member is a party or potential witness, is privileged from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, and returning from the place of the court proceeding, unless the arrest is supported by an arrest warrant or other judicial order. It is also considered contempt of court and false imprisonment for any person to willfully violate this section by executing or facilitating an arrest prohibited by this section.

The bill also states that regardless of whether a proceeding for contempt of court has been initiated, a person arrested in violation of this section may bring a civil action for appropriate relief, the department of attorney general may bring an action on behalf of the person arrested and/or on behalf of the court, and in any successful action, the person shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees. The bill clarifies that nothing in this section narrows or lessens any common law or other right or privilege of a person to be free from unlawful arrest. The bill defines terms used in this section and declares that if any provision of this section is held invalid, it does not affect other provisions or applications of this section. The bill would take effect upon passage.