HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1022        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2384

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James J. O'Day

_________________

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 enhancing child safety.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

1/18/2023

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

1/26/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1022        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2384

By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2384) of James J. O'Day and Daniel M. Donahue for legislation to require landlords to install window guards in certain residential units housing children under 10 years of age.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act enhancing child safety.

 

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 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 127P the following section:- Section 127Q. Any landlord who has a tenant in a residential unit with a window higher than 6 feet off the ground shall inform the tenant that the landlord shall install window guards in any such windows at no additional cost to the tenant when the tenant can document the presence of children under 10 years of age in the unit. If any such windows are an access to fire escape routes or structures, the window guard shall be removable. The tenant shall not remove the window guards for any reason except emergency egress in times of a fire or other situation involving hazardous materials. The obligations of a landlord to install window guards under this section shall not affect the ability of a renter to lease the unit; and any discrimination by the landlord in this regard shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $250 but not more than $500.