HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 971        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James J. O'Day

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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 enhancing child safety.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 971        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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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 relative to 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 2022 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.