SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Pavel Payano

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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 promoting fairness in youthful offender indictments.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

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

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 promoting fairness in youthful offender indictments.

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 52 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 18, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.

SECTION 2. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 21, the words “(a) has previously been committed to the department of youth services, or (b) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (c)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (a) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (b).

SECTION 3. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 25 - 28, the words “; provided that, nothing in this clause shall allow for less than the imposition of the mandatory commitment periods provided in section fifty-eight of chapter one hundred and nineteen”.

SECTION 4. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.

SECTION 5. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 23, the words “, and the person has previously been committed to the department of youth services,”.

SECTION 6. Upon enactment, provisions of this bill shall apply to juvenile cases that have not been adjudicated at the effective date of the law.