An Act to further protect children
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 6/5/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:
: A parent, legal guardian or caretaker who willfully fails to contact law enforcement or emergency personnel concerning the safety of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, in his or her care whose whereabouts has not been ascertained within the past 48 hours shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years. A parent, legal guardian or caretaker of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, who has knowledge of the death of said child, and who fails to notify law enforcement or emergency personnel of said death within one hour of their knowledge of the occurrence, shall be punishable by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one half years.
Chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section: Section 20: A parent, legal guardian or caretaker who willfully fails to contact law enforcement or emergency personnel concerning the safety of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, in his or her care whose whereabouts has not been ascertained within the past 48 hours shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years. A parent, legal guardian or caretaker of a minor child, 16 years of age or younger, who has knowledge of the death of said child, and who fails to notify law enforcement or emergency personnel of said death within one hour of their knowledge of the occurrence, shall be punishable by imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one half years.