SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1415        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 984

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James T. Welch

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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 increased penalties for assault, assault and battery, stalking, and criminal harassment at youth sporting events.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1415        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 984

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 952 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to increased penalties for assault, assault and battery, stalking, and criminal harassment at youth sporting events.

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 inserting after Section 13M, the following section:

Section 13N: Assault and battery at a youth sporting event; definitions; penalties

(1) Definitions:

(a) "Youth sporting event" means any event, including but not limited to games, practices, and scrimmages, sanctioned by a town, school district, county, the Commonwealth, or any other athletic association recognized by the Commonwealth.

(2) Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery pursuant to c. 265 §13A on another at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in subsection (1)(a) of this section, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 90 days nor more than 2 ½ years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.

SECTION 2. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 43A, the following sections:

Section 43B: Stalking at a youth sporting event; penalties

(1) Whoever engages in stalking pursuant to c. 265 §43 at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in c. 265 §13N(1)(a), shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 60 days nor more than 5 years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.

Section 43C: Criminal harassment at a youth sporting event; penalties

(1) Whoever commits criminal harassment pursuant to c. 265 §43A at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in c. 265 §13N(1)(a), shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 30 days nor more than 5 years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.