By Representatives O'Day of West Boylston and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1923) of James J. O'Day, Lindsay N. Sabadosa and others relative to the age of criminal majority. The Judiciary.
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Date
Branch
Action
3/26/2026
House
3/26/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27)
—
House
— HouseReported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
11/18/2025
Joint
11/18/2025 JointHearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time
11/7/2025
Joint
11/7/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on The Judiciary
An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for youths
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95 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the sixtieth clause and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- Sixtieth, “Age of criminal majority” shall mean the age of “19.”
▸SECTION 2
Said clause of said section 7 of said chapter 4 is further amended by striking out the number “19,” inserting in place thereof the following number:- “20”
▸SECTION 3
Said clause of said section 7 of said chapter 4 is further amended by striking out the number “20,” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “21”
▸SECTION 4
Section 167 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in all instances, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 5
Section 20 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 10 the words “18 years” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority.”
▸SECTION 6
Section 24 of chapter 37 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 14 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority.”
▸SECTION 7
Section 98F of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in clause (iv) of the last sentence, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the age of criminal majority.
▸SECTION 8
Section 32H of chapter 94C, so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the second paragraph, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority.”
▸SECTION 9
Said section 32H of chapter 94C of the General Laws, so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the second paragraph, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 10
Section 32M of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 1 the word “eighteen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 11
Said section 32M of chapter 94C of the General Law is hereby further amended by striking out in line 6 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 12
Section 36 of chapter 94C of the General Law, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 6 the words “their eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 13
Section 52 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in the definition of “delinquent child”, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 14
Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in the definition of “youthful offender,” the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 15
Section 54 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in the first paragraph, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 16
Said section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in the second paragraph, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 17
Section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words in lines 8 to 12, inclusive “that any such probation may be imposed until such child reaches age eighteen or age nineteen in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his eighteenth birthday or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he attains his nineteenth birthday”, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “that any such probation may, in the case of an offense that occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, be imposed until such child reaches age 18 or 19 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child has attained the child’s eighteenth birthday or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s nineteenth birthday. In the case of an offense that occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday, such probation may be imposed until such child reaches age 19 or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child has attained the child’s nineteenth birthday, or age 21 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twentieth birthday.”
▸SECTION 18
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “after he attains his twentieth birthday”, in line 12, the following words:- “or age 22 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twenty-first birthday”
▸SECTION 19
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “his twenty-first birthday”, in line 12, the following words:- “or age 23 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twenty-second birthday”
▸SECTION 20
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “attains the age of eighteen”, in lines 26 to 27, inclusive, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
▸SECTION 21
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “nineteenth birthday”, in lines 29 to 30, inclusive, the following words:- “In a case where the offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday, the probationary or commitment period shall not be for a period longer than until such child attains the age of nineteen, or twenty in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their nineteenth birthday, or twenty-one in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their twentieth birthday.”
▸SECTION 22
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “ twentieth birthday” the following words:- “or twenty-two in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their twenty-first birthday.”
▸SECTION 23
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-first birthday”, the following words:- “or twenty-two in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-first birthday, or twenty-three in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-second birthday.”
▸SECTION 24
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 38, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until he reaches the age of twenty- three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
▸SECTION 25
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 54, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until they reach the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday”
▸SECTION 26
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “juvenile court probation department until the age of twenty-one”, in line 48, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
▸SECTION 27
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 54, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until they reach the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday”
▸SECTION 28
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “eighteenth”, in line 79, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-first”
▸SECTION 29
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Cedar Junction, prior to his eighteenth birthday”, in lines 78 to 79, and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
“any prison owned, operated, administered or subject to the control of the department of correction including, but not limited to: Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Cedar Junction; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Norfolk; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Concord; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framingham; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Plymouth; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Warwick; and Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Monroe, prior to his twenty-first birthday.”
▸SECTION 30
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words “until such child attains his eighteenth birthday or his nineteenth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his eighteenth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their nineteenth birthday or their twentieth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their nineteenth birthday”
▸SECTION 31
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words “ until such child attains his nineteenth birthday or his twentieth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his nineteenth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their twentieth birthday or their twenty-first birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twentieth birthday”
▸SECTION 32
Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words“ until such child attains his twentieth birthday or his twenty-first birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his twentieth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their twenty-first or their twenty-second birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-first birthday”
▸SECTION 33
Section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 17 the words “ eighteenth birthdays” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 34
Said section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 20 the words, “been age 18 older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 35
Said section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 22 the number, “were age 18 or older” where it so appears and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 36
Section 63A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 1 the words “is 19 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 37
Said section 63A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 2 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 38
Section 65 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 2 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 39
Section 66 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 and 5 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 40
Section 67 of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in subsection (a), subsection (b), and subsection (d) as amended by section 76 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2020, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 41
Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68 as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 42
Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68 as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 43
Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68A as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 44
Section 70 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 2 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 45
Section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 2 through 3, inclusive, the words “their eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 46
Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 9 the word “ twentieth” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“twenty-first”
▸SECTION 47
Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “twenty-first” in line 9 and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-second”
▸SECTION 48
Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “twenty-second” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-third”
▸SECTION 49
Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10 to 13, inclusive, the words “ prior to his eighteenth birthday, and is not apprehended until between such child’s eighteenth and nineteenth birthday, the court shall deal with such child in the same manner as if he has not attained his eighteenth birthday and all provisions and rights applicable to a child under 18 shall apply to such child.” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
“prior to attaining the age of criminal majority, and is not apprehended until between such child’s attainment of the age of criminal majority and the subsequent birthday, the court shall deal with such child in the same manner as if they have not attained the age of criminal majority and all provisions and rights applicable to a child under 18 shall apply to such child.”
▸SECTION 50
Subsection (b) of section 72 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “their eighteenth birthday”, in line 18, and inserting in place thereof the following words:-the age of criminal majority
▸SECTION 51
Section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the word “twenty-first”, in line 25, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-third”
▸SECTION 52
Section 72A of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 2 to 3 inclusive, the words “his eighteenth birthday, and is not apprehended until after his nineteenth birthday,” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
“attaining the age of criminal majority, and is not apprehended until after their subsequent birthday”
▸SECTION 53
Section 72B of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in all instances, the words “his eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attaining the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 54
Section 74 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 through 4, inclusive, the words “his eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“attaining the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 55
Said section 74 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 10 and 14 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 56
Section 84 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the first paragraph as amended by section 78 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words“eighteen (or nineteen) years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority (or one year older)”
▸SECTION 57
Section 86 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “21” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “23”
▸SECTION 58
Section 89 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 59
Section 89 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “22” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “23”
▸SECTION 60
Section 15 of chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 and 4 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 61
Section 21 of chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 6, 9, and 10 the word “conviction” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “adjudication”
▸SECTION 62
Said section 21 of said chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 17 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 63
Section 2A of chapter 211D of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in subsection (f) as amended by section 107 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 64
Section 13 of chapter 250 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 3 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 65
Section 2 of chapter 258E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 7 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
▸SECTION 66
Section 15A of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 24 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 67
Section 15A of said chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 46 the words “is 18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “has attained the age of criminal responsibility”
▸SECTION 68
Section 15B of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 24 the words “ 18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- who has attained the age of criminal majority
▸SECTION 69
Section 18 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 26 the number “18 years of over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 70
Section 18B of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 43 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 71
Section 19 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 23 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 72
Section 43 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 56 and 89 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 73
Section 59 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as added by section 132 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
▸SECTION 74
Section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 53 the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 75
Said section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking in line 55 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 76
Said section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 223 and 225 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 77
Section 10E of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 40 through 41, inclusive, the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 78
Section 10E of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out in line 42 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 79
Section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 4 and 28 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 80
Said section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 32 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 81
Said section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 50 the words “17 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 82
Section 10G of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 34 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 83
Section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 7 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
▸SECTION 84
Said section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 14 and 15, inclusive, the words “was eighteen years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “had attained the age of criminal majority”
▸SECTION 85
Section 89A of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 3 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 86
Section 89B of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as added by section 183 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the words “are 18 to 24” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority and are under 25”
▸SECTION 87
Section 100D of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 8 the number “17” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 88
Section 6B of chapter 280 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the first paragraph as amended by section 209 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
▸SECTION 89
Sections 1, 30, and 46 are hereby repealed.
▸SECTION 90
Section 89 shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
▸SECTION 91
Sections 2, 31, and 47 shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
▸SECTION 92
Sections 18 and 22, shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
▸SECTION 93
Section 91 is hereby repealed.
▸SECTION 94
Section 93 shall take effect on July 1, 2030.
▸SECTION 95
Sections 3, 19, 23, 32, and 48 shall take effect on July 1, 2030.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the sixtieth clause and inserting in place thereof the following clause:- Sixtieth, “Age of criminal majority” shall mean the age of “19.”
SECTION 2. Said clause of said section 7 of said chapter 4 is further amended by striking out the number “19,” inserting in place thereof the following number:- “20”
SECTION 3. Said clause of said section 7 of said chapter 4 is further amended by striking out the number “20,” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “21”
SECTION 4. Section 167 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in all instances, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 5. Section 20 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 10 the words “18 years” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority.”
SECTION 6. Section 24 of chapter 37 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 14 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority.”
SECTION 7. Section 98F of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in clause (iv) of the last sentence, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the age of criminal majority.
SECTION 8. Section 32H of chapter 94C, so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the second paragraph, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority.”
SECTION 9. Said section 32H of chapter 94C of the General Laws, so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the second paragraph, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 10. Section 32M of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 1 the word “eighteen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 11. Said section 32M of chapter 94C of the General Law is hereby further amended by striking out in line 6 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 12. Section 36 of chapter 94C of the General Law, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 6 the words “their eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 13. Section 52 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in the definition of “delinquent child”, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 14. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in the definition of “youthful offender,” the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 15. Section 54 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in the first paragraph, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 16. Said section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in the second paragraph, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 17. Section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words in lines 8 to 12, inclusive “that any such probation may be imposed until such child reaches age eighteen or age nineteen in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his eighteenth birthday or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he attains his nineteenth birthday”, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “that any such probation may, in the case of an offense that occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, be imposed until such child reaches age 18 or 19 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child has attained the child’s eighteenth birthday or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s nineteenth birthday. In the case of an offense that occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday, such probation may be imposed until such child reaches age 19 or age 20 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child has attained the child’s nineteenth birthday, or age 21 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twentieth birthday.”
SECTION 18. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “after he attains his twentieth birthday”, in line 12, the following words:- “or age 22 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twenty-first birthday”
SECTION 19. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “his twenty-first birthday”, in line 12, the following words:- “or age 23 in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after the child attains the child’s twenty-second birthday”
SECTION 20. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “attains the age of eighteen”, in lines 26 to 27, inclusive, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
SECTION 21. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “nineteenth birthday”, in lines 29 to 30, inclusive, the following words:- “In a case where the offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday, the probationary or commitment period shall not be for a period longer than until such child attains the age of nineteen, or twenty in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their nineteenth birthday, or twenty-one in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their twentieth birthday.”
SECTION 22. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “ twentieth birthday” the following words:- “or twenty-two in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after such child has attained their twenty-first birthday.”
SECTION 23. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-first birthday”, the following words:- “or twenty-two in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-first birthday, or twenty-three in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-second birthday.”
SECTION 24. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 38, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until he reaches the age of twenty- three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
SECTION 25. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 54, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until they reach the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday”
SECTION 26. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “juvenile court probation department until the age of twenty-one”, in line 48, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday.”
SECTION 27. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after the words “twenty-one”, in line 54, the following words:- “in a case where the offense occurred prior to the child’s eighteenth birthday, or until they reach the age of twenty-three in the case of a child whose offense occurred on or after the child’s eighteenth birthday”
SECTION 28. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “eighteenth”, in line 79, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-first”
SECTION 29. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Cedar Junction, prior to his eighteenth birthday”, in lines 78 to 79, and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
“any prison owned, operated, administered or subject to the control of the department of correction including, but not limited to: Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Cedar Junction; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Norfolk; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Concord; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framingham; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Bridgewater; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Plymouth; Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Warwick; and Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Monroe, prior to his twenty-first birthday.”
SECTION 30. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words “until such child attains his eighteenth birthday or his nineteenth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his eighteenth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their nineteenth birthday or their twentieth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their nineteenth birthday”
SECTION 31. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words “ until such child attains his nineteenth birthday or his twentieth birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his nineteenth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their twentieth birthday or their twenty-first birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twentieth birthday”
SECTION 32. Said section 58 of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the words“ until such child attains his twentieth birthday or his twenty-first birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after he has attained his twentieth birthday”, in lines 97 to 99, inclusive, and inserting the following words:- “until such child attains their twenty-first or their twenty-second birthday in the case of a child whose case is disposed of after they have attained their twenty-first birthday”
SECTION 33. Section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 17 the words “ eighteenth birthdays” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 34. Said section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 20 the words, “been age 18 older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 35. Said section 60A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 22 the number, “were age 18 or older” where it so appears and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 36. Section 63A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 1 the words “is 19 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 37. Said section 63A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 2 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 38. Section 65 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 2 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 39. Section 66 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 and 5 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 40. Section 67 of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in subsection (a), subsection (b), and subsection (d) as amended by section 76 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2020, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 41. Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68 as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 42. Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68 as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 43. Chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in section 68A as amended by section 77 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 44. Section 70 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 2 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 45. Section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 2 through 3, inclusive, the words “their eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 46. Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 9 the word “ twentieth” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“twenty-first”
SECTION 47. Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “twenty-first” in line 9 and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-second”
SECTION 48. Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out the word “twenty-second” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-third”
SECTION 49. Said section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10 to 13, inclusive, the words “ prior to his eighteenth birthday, and is not apprehended until between such child’s eighteenth and nineteenth birthday, the court shall deal with such child in the same manner as if he has not attained his eighteenth birthday and all provisions and rights applicable to a child under 18 shall apply to such child.” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
“prior to attaining the age of criminal majority, and is not apprehended until between such child’s attainment of the age of criminal majority and the subsequent birthday, the court shall deal with such child in the same manner as if they have not attained the age of criminal majority and all provisions and rights applicable to a child under 18 shall apply to such child.”
SECTION 50. Subsection (b) of section 72 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “their eighteenth birthday”, in line 18, and inserting in place thereof the following words:-the age of criminal majority
SECTION 51. Section 72 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the word “twenty-first”, in line 25, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “twenty-third”
SECTION 52. Section 72A of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 2 to 3 inclusive, the words “his eighteenth birthday, and is not apprehended until after his nineteenth birthday,” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
“attaining the age of criminal majority, and is not apprehended until after their subsequent birthday”
SECTION 53. Section 72B of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in all instances, the words “his eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attaining the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 54. Section 74 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 through 4, inclusive, the words “his eighteenth birthday” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“attaining the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 55. Said section 74 of said chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 10 and 14 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 56. Section 84 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the first paragraph as amended by section 78 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words“eighteen (or nineteen) years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority (or one year older)”
SECTION 57. Section 86 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “21” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “23”
SECTION 58. Section 89 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 59. Section 89 of chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the definition of “Juvenile” of subsection (a) as amended by section 80 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the number “22” and inserting in place thereof the following number:- “23”
SECTION 60. Section 15 of chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 3 and 4 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 61. Section 21 of chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 6, 9, and 10 the word “conviction” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “adjudication”
SECTION 62. Said section 21 of said chapter 120 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 17 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 63. Section 2A of chapter 211D of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in subsection (f) as amended by section 107 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 64. Section 13 of chapter 250 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 3 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 65. Section 2 of chapter 258E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 7 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
SECTION 66. Section 15A of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 24 the words “18 years of age” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 67. Section 15A of said chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 46 the words “is 18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “has attained the age of criminal responsibility”
SECTION 68. Section 15B of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 24 the words “ 18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- who has attained the age of criminal majority
SECTION 69. Section 18 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 26 the number “18 years of over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 70. Section 18B of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 43 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 71. Section 19 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 23 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 72. Section 43 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 56 and 89 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 73. Section 59 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as added by section 132 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
SECTION 74. Section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 53 the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 75. Said section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking in line 55 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 76. Said section 10 of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 223 and 225 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 77. Section 10E of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 40 through 41, inclusive, the words “18 years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 78. Section 10E of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out in line 42 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 79. Section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 4 and 28 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 80. Said section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 32 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 81. Said section 10F of chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in line 50 the words “17 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 82. Section 10G of chapter 269 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 34 the words “18 years of age or over” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “who has attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 83. Section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 7 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-“criminal majority”
SECTION 84. Said section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 14 and 15, inclusive, the words “was eighteen years of age or older” and inserting in place thereof the words:- “had attained the age of criminal majority”
SECTION 85. Section 89A of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 3 the number “18” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 86. Section 89B of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as added by section 183 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the words “are 18 to 24” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “attained the age of criminal majority and are under 25”
SECTION 87. Section 100D of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 8 the number “17” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 88. Section 6B of chapter 280 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in the first paragraph as amended by section 209 of chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018, the words “18 years” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “criminal majority”
SECTION 89. Sections 1, 30, and 46 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 90. Section 89 shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
SECTION 91. Sections 2, 31, and 47 shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
SECTION 92. Sections 18 and 22, shall take effect on July 1, 2028.
SECTION 93. Section 91 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 94. Section 93 shall take effect on July 1, 2030.
SECTION 95. Sections 3, 19, 23, 32, and 48 shall take effect on July 1, 2030.