1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 240 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 105
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joan B. Lovely
_________________
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 supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joan B. LovelySecond Essex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 240 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 105
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 105) of Joan B. Lovely for
legislation relative to supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.
Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 126 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.
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 2A of chapter 38 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the
2following paragraph:-
3 (h) In all cases of sudden unexpected death in pediatrics when autopsy is required by law,
4except in cases of (1) homicide, (2) suicide or (3) established cause, the office of the chief
5medical examiner shall, on behalf of the parents of the deceased, engage services including, but
6not limited to, genetic testing and ongoing bereavement support. The office of the chief medical
7examiner shall refer, as close to the time of incident as possible, but no longer than three days
8after receipt of the decedent, any undetermined death of a child three years of age or younger to
9the Massachusetts center for unexpected infant and child death at Boston Medical Center for
10counseling and grief support. These referrals shall include any suspected case of sudden infant 2 of 2
11death syndrome, sudden unexplained infant death, sudden unexpected death in childhood, sudden
12unexplained death in pediatrics or any sudden child death likely to remain unexplained by
13standard autopsy and investigation.