SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1897        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1820

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act to increase the penalties for corporate manslaughter..

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. Section 13 of Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:-

“Section 13. Manslaughter; punishment

(a) Any person who commits manslaughter shall, except as hereinafter provided, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars and imprisonment in jail or a house of correction for not more than two and one half years. Whoever commits manslaughter while violating the provisions of sections one hundred and one to one hundred and two B, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and sixty-six shall be imprisoned in the state prison for life or for any term of years.

(b) Any corporation that commits manslaughter shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars. If a corporation is indicted under this section, the appropriate Secretary may debar the corporation, pursuant to Section 29F of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, for not longer than ten years. If a corporation is found guilty under this section, the appropriate Secretary shall debar the corporation, pursuant to Section 29F of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, for not longer than ten years.”