HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1348        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, 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 protecting children from domestic violence.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1348        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1588 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act protecting children from domestic violence.

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 13A of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(d) Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery upon another within a dwelling and in the presence of a child under 16 years of age shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Furthermore, the law enforcement agency filing the charges shall provide the department of social services, as established in chapter 18B, with a notice of the charges, to be used at the department’s discretion.