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