SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2710        FILED ON: 7/22/2010

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2565

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Ten

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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. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 13, as amended by section 5 of chapter 160 of the acts of 2010,  and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 13. (a) Whoever commits manslaughter shall, except as hereinafter provided, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years or by a fine of not more than $1,000 and imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years. Whoever commits manslaughter while committing a violation of any of the provisions of section 102 to 102C, inclusive, of chapter 266 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 $250,000. If a corporation is complained of or indicted for a violation of this section, the appropriate commissioner or secretary, as defined in section 29F of chapter 29, may debar the corporation, in accordance with said section 29F of said chapter 29; provided, however, that such period of debarment shall not exceed 10 years. If a corporation is found guilty under this section, the appropriate commissioner or secretary shall debar the corporation, pursuant to said section 29F of said chapter 29, for a period not to exceed 10 years.