A sponsor and union representatives told the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that Senate Bill 1753 is needed to close a gap in state law that allows synthetic drugs to circulate inside jails and prisons. The sponsor said current law does not explicitly prohibit class C substances in correctional settings, creating an underground market and a persistent health and safety threat.

The sponsor explained that class C substances — commonly referenced in testimony as synthetic cannabinoids such as K2 — can be applied to paper mailed to inmates and redistributed. The bill would classify distribution, possession, and use of those substances within correctional facilities as a felony, with a mandatory minimum term of 2½ years that could be added to an inmate's sentence or run concurrently.

Kevin Flanagan of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union described a crisis of synthetic drug use at the county and state levels, saying inmates under the influence exhibit erratic and sometimes violent behavior. He also told the committee that correctional staff have experienced sudden loss of consciousness and disorientation from secondhand exposure; staff required emergency medical intervention in some cases.

Testimony noted detection challenges and toxicity: synthetic drugs are difficult to detect, may be mixed with household chemicals and insecticides, and can expose staff to hazardous substances. Supporters asked the committee to release the bill for a full vote so district attorneys would have clearer authority to prosecute offenders who jeopardize correctional safety.

No committee vote or formal action on S1753 was recorded in the hearing transcript.

Committee members thanked witnesses and emphasized the hidden nature of the risk inside facilities; one member specifically thanked correctional staff for their service.