HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2241        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 199

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jack Patrick Lewis

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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 let kids play.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/18/2023

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

1/20/2023

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

1/27/2023

Samantha Montaño

15th Suffolk

3/24/2023

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

5/1/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2241        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 199

By Representative Lewis of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 199) of Jack Patrick Lewis, Natalie M. Higgins and James K. Hawkins that certain retail department stores be prohibited from dividing the display of certain childcare items into sections by gender.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

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An Act to let kids play.

 

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 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 330. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: “Childcare articles”, any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething.

“Toys”, products designed or intended for use in play by children under the age of 14.

(b) A retail department store with more than 500 employees that sells childcare articles or toys shall not divide the display of such items into sections by gender.

(c) If a violation of this section is not corrected within 30 days of receiving written notice from the attorney general, the violation shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect 180 days following its passage.