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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 277 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1704
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Dennis C. Gallagher
_________________
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 to prevent aiding, supporting, or enticing a child to runaway.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Dennis C. Gallagher8th Plymouth1/7/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 277 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1704
By Representative Gallagher of Bridgewater, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1704)
of Dennis C. Gallagher relative to penalties for aiding, supporting, or enticing children to
runaway. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1467 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to prevent aiding, supporting, or enticing a child to runaway.
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 26D the
2following section:-
3 Section 26E. (a) As used in this section, the term “entice” shall mean to lure, induce,
4persuade, tempt, incite, solicit, coax or invite.
5 (b) (1) Whoever, without lawful authority, knowingly aids, supports or entices a child
6under the age of 18 in absconding from, or continuing to abscond from the care of a parent, legal
7guardian or any other person, agency or entity legally responsible for the care of the child shall
8be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year, or by a fine of
9not more than $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 2 of 3
10 (2) Whoever, without lawful authority, knowingly aids, supports or entices a child under
11the age of 14 in absconding from, or continuing to abscond from the care of a parent, legal
12guardian or any other person, agency or entity legally responsible for the care of the child shall
13be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years, or by a fine of not
14more than $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
15 (c) (1) Whoever knowingly aids, supports or entices a child under the age of 18 in
16absconding from, or continuing to abscond from, the custody of the department of children and
17families, foster care or from the custody of any other individual, agency or entity legally
18responsible for the care of the child pursuant to a child requiring assistance order or
19determination by the juvenile court shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction
20for not more than 2½ years or in a state prison for not more than 5 years, or by a fine of not less
21than $2,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
22 (2) Whoever knowingly aids, supports or entices a child under the age of 14 in
23absconding from, or continuing to abscond from, the custody of the department of children and
24families, foster care or from the custody of any other individual, agency or entity legally
25responsible for the care of the child pursuant to a child requiring assistance order or
26determination by the juvenile court shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for not
27more than 10 years, or by a fine of not less than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
28 (d) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (b) or (c) of this section on or within 300 feet
29of the real property comprising a public or private accredited preschool, accredited head start
30facility, elementary, vocational or secondary school, whether or not in session, shall be punished 3 of 3
31by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2½ years or in a state prison for not
32more than 5 years, or by a fine of not less than $2,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment.