HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5039 FILED ON: 4/8/2024
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
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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 increasing the sentences of emerging adults for murder in the first degree.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 4/4/2024 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5039 FILED ON: 4/8/2024
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By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., for legislation to further regulate sentences for murder in the first degree. The Judiciary. |
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 increasing the sentences of emerging adults for murder in the first degree.
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 133A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- 21.
SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(e) Any person who is found guilty of murder in the first degree who committed the offense on or after the person's eighteenth birthday and before the person's twenty-first birthday shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life and shall be eligible for parole after the term of years fixed by the court pursuant to section 24 of chapter 279.
SECTION 3. Section 24 of chapter 279 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding 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 40 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; 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 40 years.