🦅

H4833

194th

An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

StatusActive Amendments0 SponsorJoint Committee on Public Health CommitteeNot yet assigned

malegislature.gov ↗ · Download PDF · View Text on malegislature.gov

Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.

No summary yet. Click the button to generate one.

Date	Branch	Action
12/22/2025	House	12/22/2025 HouseBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
12/22/2025	House	12/22/2025 HouseNew draft of H2436 ↗
12/22/2025	House	12/22/2025 HouseReported from the committee on Public Health

Cosponsor
Homar Gómez

Committee	Recommendation	Vote
J16	Redraft	1 entries

J16

11/25/2025

Question: Shall the bill be reported favorably with a new draft?

Favorable: 11

SBA1 · BJA1 · M_C2 · MCD1 · HEK1 · SPK1 · S_M1 · S_R1 · AMS3 · PSS1 · J_T2

Bill	Title	Status
H2436	An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner	Active

6 section(s) · formatted for easier reading

▸SECTION 1

The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 38 the following chapter:-
	CHAPTER 38A.
	THE BENSON BILL.

▸SECTION 1

This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Benson Bill".

▸SECTION 2

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:-
	“Child,” any individual aged 5 years or younger.  
	“Office,” the office of the chief medical examiner.

▸SECTION 3

Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the office  shall be prohibited from assessing any fees or charges, including but not limited to, fees for cremation viewings, on families for the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body.

▸SECTION 4

Annually, not later than December 31,  the office shall file a report on its work pertaining to the removal, transportation, or handling of deceased children’s bodies with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on public health. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the total number of child cases handled by the office; (ii) any costs the office absorbed related to the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body; and (iii) any recommendations for additional funding if necessary.

▸SECTION 5

This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.

Show raw text

	SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 38 the following chapter:- 
	CHAPTER 38A.
	THE BENSON BILL.
	Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The Benson Bill".
	Section 2. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:-
	“Child,” any individual aged 5 years or younger.  
	“Office,” the office of the chief medical examiner.
	Section 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the office  shall be prohibited from assessing any fees or charges, including but not limited to, fees for cremation viewings, on families for the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body.
	Section 4. Annually, not later than December 31,  the office shall file a report on its work pertaining to the removal, transportation, or handling of deceased children’s bodies with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on public health. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the total number of child cases handled by the office; (ii) any costs the office absorbed related to the removal, transportation, or handling of a deceased child’s body; and (iii) any recommendations for additional funding if necessary.   
	Section 5. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.