HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4813        FILED ON: 1/23/2024

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Christopher M. Markey

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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 emerging adult life sentences for first-degree murder.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Christopher M. Markey

9th Bristol

1/23/2024

Jeffrey Rosario Turco

19th Suffolk

2/28/2024


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4813        FILED ON: 1/23/2024

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By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Christopher M. Markey relative to emerging adult life sentences for first-degree murder.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to emerging adult life sentences for first-degree murder.

 

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. Section 24 of chapter 279 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting this third paragraph, after the second paragraph, the following paragraph: -

In the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree committed by a person on or after the person's eighteenth birthday and before the person's twenty-first birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of not less than 30 years nor more than 60 years; provided, however, that in the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree with extreme atrocity or cruelty committed by a person on or after the person's eighteenth birthday and before the person's twenty-first birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of 40 years nor more than 60 years; and provided further, that in the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree with deliberately premeditated malice aforethought committed by a person on or after the person's eighteenth birthday and before the person's twenty-first birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of not less than 35 years nor more than 60 years.