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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1240
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Pavel M. Payano
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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 promoting fairness in youthful offender indictments.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Pavel M. PayanoFirst Essex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 815 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1240
By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1240) of Pavel M. Payano for
legislation to promote fairness in youthful offender indictments by raising the minimum age of a
youthful offender from 14 to 16. The Judiciary.
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 promoting fairness in youthful offender indictments.
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 52 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 18, the word “fourteen” and inserting
3in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.
4 SECTION 2. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further
5amended by striking out, in line 21, the words “(a) has previously been committed to the
6department of youth services, or (b) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or
7threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (c)” and inserting in place thereof the
8following words:- (a) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious
9bodily harm in violation of law, or (b).
10 SECTION 3. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further
11amended by striking out, in lines 25 - 28, the words “; provided that, nothing in this clause shall 2 of 2
12allow for less than the imposition of the mandatory commitment periods provided in section
13fifty-eight of chapter one hundred and nineteen”.
14 SECTION 4. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
15striking out, in line 21, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:-
16sixteen.
17 SECTION 5. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
18striking out, in line 23, the words “, and the person has previously been committed to the
19department of youth services,”.
20 SECTION 6. Upon enactment, provisions of this bill shall apply to juvenile cases that
21have not been adjudicated at the effective date of the law.