HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1886 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3309
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kenneth I. Gordon
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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 amending the statute of limitations relating to civil rights actions and criminal prosecutions for the sexual assault and rape of a child.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Kenneth I. Gordon | 21st Middlesex | 1/17/2019 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Lori A. Ehrlich | 8th Essex | 1/28/2019 |
Stephan Hay | 3rd Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Steven Ultrino | 33rd Middlesex | 1/25/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1886 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3309
By Mr. Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3309) of Kenneth I. Gordon and others relative to civil rights actions of persons under the age of eighteen when the offense was committed. The Judiciary. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3060 OF 2017-2018.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act amending the statute of limitations relating to civil rights actions and criminal prosecutions for the sexual assault and rape of a child.
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 260 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 5B, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section: -
§5B. Civil rights actions
Actions arising on account of violations of any law intended for the protection of civil rights, including but not limited to actions alleging employment, housing and other discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry or handicap shall be commenced only within three years next after the cause of action accrues, except that an action commenced under 42 U.S.C. §1681-1686,Title IX, for sexual assault, or sexual abuse, as that term is defined in G.L. c. 260, section 4C, shall be governed by the provisions of G.L. c. 260, section 4C½.
SECTION 2. Chapter 277 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end of section 63, as so appearing, the following paragraph: -
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an indictment or complaint alleging an offense of indecent assault and battery, or an offense of rape, may be found and filed at any time after the commission of such offense, provided that the victim was under the age of 18 when the offense was committed.