HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3105        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1427

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John D. Keenan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to domestic violence.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3105        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1427

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to domestic violence.

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, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out section 13M, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 13M. (a) Whoever commits an assault or assault and battery on a family or household member, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.

           (b) Whoever is convicted of committing an assault or assault and battery on a family or household member, after having previously been convicted of, placed on probation for, granted a continuance without a finding for, or otherwise having pleaded guilty to or admitted to a finding of sufficient facts for (1) an assault or assault and battery on a family or household member; (2) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another; (3) an offense that has as an element the possession, use, or threatened use of a deadly weapon; (4) a “sex offense” as defined in section 178C of chapter 6 of the General Laws, or (5) a violation of section 7 of chapter 209A, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) For any violation of this section, or as a condition of a continuance without a finding, the court shall order the defendant to complete a certified batterer’s intervention program unless, upon good cause shown, the court issues specific written findings describing the reasons that batterer’s intervention should not be ordered or unless the batterer’s intervention program determines that the defendant is not suitable for intervention.

SECTION 2. Chapter 265, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after Section 15C the following section:--

Section 15D. (a) For the purposes of this section the following words shall have the following meanings:

"Strangulation" shall mean the intentional interference of the normal breathing or circulation of blood by applying pressure on the throat or neck of another.

"Suffocation" shall mean the intentional interference of the normal breathing or circulation of blood by blocking the nose or mouth of another.

"Serious bodily injury" shall mean bodily injury that results in a permanent disfigurement, loss or impairment of a bodily function, limb or organ, or a substantial risk of death.

(b) Whoever strangles or suffocates another shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c) Whoever: (i) strangles or suffocates another and by such strangulation or suffocation causes serious bodily injury; or (ii) strangles or suffocates another who is pregnant at the time of such strangulation or suffocation, knowing or having reason to know that the person is pregnant; or (iii) is convicted of strangling or suffocating another after having been previously convicted of the crime of strangling or suffocating another under this section, or of a like offense in federal court or the court of any state; or (iv) strangles or suffocates another who he or she knows has an outstanding temporary or permanent vacate, restraining or no contact order or judgment issued pursuant to section 18, 34B or 34C of chapter 208 , section 32 of chapter 209, section 3, 4 or 5 of chapter 209A, section 7 or 10 of chapter 209A½, or section 15 or 20 of chapter 209C, in effect against him or her at the time the offense was committed, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years, and by a fine of not more than $10,000.

SECTION 3. Section 55 of chapter 276, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting in line five after the words “or with intent to commit a felony” the following:-

or would constitute domestic abuse as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A or a violation of an order issued pursuant to section 3, 4 or 5 of chapter 209A or section 34B or 34C of chapter 208.