HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4361
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 12, 2024.
The committee on The Judiciary to whom was referred the petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 1746) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to tort
actions for latent diseases, reports recommending that the accompanying
bill (House, No. 4361) ought to pass.
For the committee,
MICHAEL S. DAY. 1 of 2
FILED ON: 2/5/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4361
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to tort actions for latent diseases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 2B of Chapter 260 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking, in line 4, the words “thirty-nine A of chapter
3seven” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 39A of chapter 7.
4 SECTION 2. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
5line 5, the words “only within three years next” and inserting in place thereof the following
6words:- within 3 years.
7 SECTION 3. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
8lines 5 to 6, inclusive, the words “in no event shall such actions” and inserting in place thereof
9the following words:- , except for tort actions for damages due to latent diseases caused by
10exposure to toxic substances including, but not limited to, asbestos, such actions shall not.
11 SECTION 4. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
12line 7 the word “six” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- 6. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 5. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
14lines 14 to 15, inclusive, the words “thirty-nine A shall be commenced only within three years
15next” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 39A shall be commenced within 3
16years.
17 SECTION 6. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
18lines 15 to 16, inclusive, the words “in no event shall actions be commenced more than six” and
19inserting in place thereof the following words:- , except for tort actions for damages due to latent
20diseases caused by exposure to toxic substances including, but not limited to, asbestos, such
21actions shall not be commenced more than 6.
22 SECTION 7. Said section 2B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking, in
23line 20, the words “chapter thirty, section thirty-nine G” and inserting in place thereof the
24following words:- section 39G of chapter 30.
25 SECTION 8. Sections 1 to 7, inclusive, shall be effective for all causes of action accruing
26before, on, or after the date of enactment, including any pending causes of action.