HD 1609 allows victims of rape to seek termination of the perpetrator's parental rights for children conceived during the assault. The bill specifically enables married women to petition courts to end their husband's parental rights if a child was conceived through rape (defined under MA law), and mothers to petition for termination against the perpetrator. Courts must accept a guilty plea or conviction for rape as conclusive proof that the child was conceived unlawfully, and presume termination is in the child's best interest. The petition can be filed at any time, directly affecting victims and their children by providing a legal path to remove the perpetrator's parental rights.
HD 1804 creates new criminal offenses in Massachusetts law for sexual misconduct by rideshare operators against passengers during a ride. It specifically defines "indecent assault and battery" (punishable by up to 5 years in prison) and "rape" (punishable by up to 20 years in prison) when committed by a rideshare driver during a ride. The bill establishes that passengers are deemed incapable of consenting to sexual contact during the ride period, which begins when the driver accepts the ride request and ends when the passenger exits the vehicle. This directly affects rideshare drivers operating through transportation network companies and their passengers in Massachusetts.
This bill (HD 1952) creates new criminal penalties for assaulting or harassing sports officials at organized athletic events. It directly affects referees, umpires, and other officials registered with sports organizations during any sporting event, including pre/post activities and parking areas. The law imposes up to 5 years in prison or a $5,000 fine for assaulting an official, and similar penalties for a "pattern of conduct" causing severe emotional distress. These changes specifically target threats or violence directed at officials enforcing sports rules at all levels of organized play.
By Representative Consalvo of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1625) of Rob Consalvo relative to assault upon and aggravated harassment of sports officials. The Judiciary.
This bill (HD 753) increases penalties for assault and battery against specific protected groups while they are performing their duties. It directly affects healthcare personnel (like nurses), school staff (teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, psychologists), school event officials (referees), and police dogs. The law adds new provisions to criminal penalties, making it a felony to assault these individuals during work hours, with punishments including up to 5 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. The bill targets violence against essential workers in healthcare and education settings, aiming to strengthen legal protections for them.
HD 140 creates a new Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls within Massachusetts' public safety department. It establishes an Ebony Alert system (similar to Amber Alerts but for Black women and girls reported missing under suspicious circumstances) and mandates the office to collect and analyze data on missing persons, homicide, trafficking, and domestic violence cases involving Black women and girls. The bill requires the office to track case resolution rates, compare outcomes across demographics, develop recommendations for policy changes, and issue grants to community organizations supporting victims and prevention efforts. This law directly affects Black women and girls in Massachusetts who go missing or are victims of violence, aiming to address systemic gaps in how their cases are handled.
This bill (H 4536) extends the retention period for rape evidence kits from the current standard to 15 years and creates a new exception to the statute of limitations for rape cases. It directly affects victims of sexual assault and law enforcement by allowing prosecutors to file charges years after the crime if the perpetrator's identity is confirmed through DNA evidence collected during the original investigation. The key provision states that charges for specific rape offenses (under Chapter 265 sections 22-23B) can be filed at any time if DNA from the original evidence identifies the suspect after the standard time limit expires. This change aims to support cases where DNA evidence becomes available later, without requiring the original investigation to have been completed within the usual timeframe.
By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1040) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to the statute of limitations in rape, assault and human trafficking crimes. The Judiciary.
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1213) of Michael O. Moore, James B. Eldridge and James K. Hawkins for legislation to establish a bill of rights for survivors of sexual assault and related purposes. The Judiciary.
By Representative DuBois of Brockton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1676) of Michelle M. DuBois for legislation to protect domestic violence and sexual assault victims and survivors. The Judiciary.
