HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1329        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1504

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Colleen M. Garry

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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 to further protect children.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1329        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1504

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1592 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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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 their knowledge of the 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.