SENATE DOCKET, NO. 50        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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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 crimes relating to distribution of controlled substances causing death.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 50        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1124 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 relative to crimes relating to distribution of controlled substances causing death.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 94C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 32N the following section:-

Section 32O. (a) A person who, while in the course of trafficking or unlawfully distributing a controlled substance as defined in section 32E, knowingly or intentionally manufactures, distributes, dispenses, delivers, gives away, barters, administers or provides any

amount of a controlled substance or counterfeit substance which results in death shall be punished as murder in the second degree as defined by section 1 of chapter 265.

(b) Lack of knowledge of a previous health condition shall not be a defense to a violation of this section.