Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1548 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 742 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1548
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Natalie M. Higgins
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to preventing suicide.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/17/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2023 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 742 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1548
18	18	By Representative Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1548) of
19	19	Natalie M. Higgins and James K. Hawkins relative to preventing suicide. The Judiciary.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE HOUSE, NO. 1640 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to preventing suicide.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 16 the
31	31	2following section:-
32	32	3 Section 16A. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
33	33	4following meanings:
34	34	5 “Suicide”, death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of
35	35	6the behavior.
36	36	7 “Suicide attempt”, a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to
37	37	8die as a result of the behavior, regardless of whether the behavior actually results in physical
38	38	9injury. 2 of 2
39	39	10 “Suicidal ideation”, thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.
40	40	11 “Knowledge of suicidal ideation”, actual knowledge of prior attempts to die from suicide;
41	41	12of a person’s planned methods to die from suicide; that a person intends to die from or attempt to
42	42	13die from suicide; or that a person has expressed such suicidal inclinations.
43	43	14 (b) A person shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5
44	44	15years if they know of another person’s propensity for suicidal ideation and either:
45	45	16 (1) (i) Exercise substantial control over the other person through control of the other
46	46	17person’s physical location or circumstances; deceptive or fraudulent manipulation of the other
47	47	18person’s fears, affections, or sympathies; or undue influence whereby the will of 1 person is
48	48	19substituted for the wishes of another;
49	49	20 (ii) intentionally coerces or encourages that person to commit or attempt to commit
50	50	21suicide; and
51	51	22 (iii) as a result of the coercion or encouragement, in whole or in part, that other person
52	52	23commits or attempts to commit suicide; or
53	53	24 (2) (i) Intentionally provides the physical means, or knowledge of such means, to the
54	54	25other person for the purpose of enabling that other person to commit or attempt to commit
55	55	26suicide and, as a result, the other person commits or attempts to commit suicide; or
56	56	27 (ii) participates in a physical act which causes, aids, encourages or assists the other
57	57	28person in committing or attempting to commit suicide.
58	58	29 (c) This section shall not apply to a medical treatment lawfully administered by, or in a
59	59	30manner prescribed by, a licensed physician.