HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3892 FILED ON: 7/11/2011
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3905
By Ms. Garry of Dracut, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Donald F. Humason, Jr., Colleen M. Garry and others relative to the reporting of a missing child. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven
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An Act to further protect children.
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 269 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:
Section 20: A parent, legal guardian or caretaker who willfully fails to contact law enforcement or emergency personnel concerning the safety of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, in his or her care whose whereabouts has not been ascertained within the past 48 hours shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years.
A parent, legal guardian or caretaker of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, who has knowledge of the death of said child, and who fails to notify law enforcement or emergency personnel of said death within one hour of occurrence, shall be punishable by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one half years.