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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1348 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1790
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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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 protecting children from domestic violence.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/14/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/14/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/31/2025Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth2/11/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1348 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1790
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1790) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to the penalty for assault or an assault and battery upon
another and in the presence of a child. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1588 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act protecting children from domestic violence.
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 13A of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
3 (d) Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery upon another within a dwelling
4and in the presence of a child under 16 years of age shall be punished by imprisonment in the
5state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2½ years, or
6by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Furthermore, the law
7enforcement agency filing the charges shall provide the department of social services, as
8established in chapter 18B, with a notice of the charges, to be used at the department’s
9discretion.