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.
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Date
Branch
Action
10/20/2025
Joint
10/20/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
9/29/2025
Senate
9/29/2025 SenateBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
6/5/2025
Joint
6/5/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseHouse concurred
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateReferred to the committee on The Judiciary
An Act promoting fairness in youthful offender indictments
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6 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 52 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 18, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.
▸SECTION 2
Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 21, the words “(a) has previously been committed to the department of youth services, or (b) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (c)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (a) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (b).
▸SECTION 3
Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 25 - 28, the words “; provided that, nothing in this clause shall allow for less than the imposition of the mandatory commitment periods provided in section fifty-eight of chapter one hundred and nineteen”.
▸SECTION 4
Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.
▸SECTION 5
Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 23, the words “, and the person has previously been committed to the department of youth services,”.
▸SECTION 6
Upon enactment, provisions of this bill shall apply to juvenile cases that have not been adjudicated at the effective date of the law.
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SECTION 1. Section 52 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 18, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.
SECTION 2. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 21, the words “(a) has previously been committed to the department of youth services, or (b) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (c)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (a) has committed an offense which involves the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm in violation of law, or (b).
SECTION 3. Said section 52 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 25 - 28, the words “; provided that, nothing in this clause shall allow for less than the imposition of the mandatory commitment periods provided in section fifty-eight of chapter one hundred and nineteen”.
SECTION 4. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “fourteen” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- sixteen.
SECTION 5. Section 54 of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 23, the words “, and the person has previously been committed to the department of youth services,”.
SECTION 6. Upon enactment, provisions of this bill shall apply to juvenile cases that have not been adjudicated at the effective date of the law.