An Act relative to preventing sexual abuse of children and youth by adults in positions of authority or trust
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12/22/2025 | Senate | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
| 10/9/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 10/21/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1 |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J13 | Favorable | 1 entries |
Chapter 268 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 21A the following new section:-
A person over the age of 21 who is employed by or contracts with a public or private school, the department of youth services, the department of children and families, the department of mental health, the department of developmental services or a private institution that provides services to clients of such departments, who is a teacher, administrator or a person in a similar position of authority in the school, department or institution and, in the course of such employment or contract or as a result thereof, engages in, within or outside of the school, department or institution, sexual relations with a person who is: (i) under the age of 19, has not received a high school diploma, general educational development certificate or equivalent document and is served by the school, department or institution; or (ii) under the age of 22, has special needs under chapter 71B, has not received a high school diploma, general educational development certificate or equivalent document and is served by the school, department or institution, shall have a cause of action against such an employee or contractor, under chapter 260, section 4C. In a civil action commenced under said section, a person served by such school, department or institution shall be deemed incapable of consent to sexual relations with such an employee or contractor.
Chapter 268 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 21A the following new section:- Section 21B. A person over the age of 21 who is employed by or contracts with a public or private school, the department of youth services, the department of children and families, the department of mental health, the department of developmental services or a private institution that provides services to clients of such departments, who is a teacher, administrator or a person in a similar position of authority in the school, department or institution and, in the course of such employment or contract or as a result thereof, engages in, within or outside of the school, department or institution, sexual relations with a person who is: (i) under the age of 19, has not received a high school diploma, general educational development certificate or equivalent document and is served by the school, department or institution; or (ii) under the age of 22, has special needs under chapter 71B, has not received a high school diploma, general educational development certificate or equivalent document and is served by the school, department or institution, shall have a cause of action against such an employee or contractor, under chapter 260, section 4C. In a civil action commenced under said section, a person served by such school, department or institution shall be deemed incapable of consent to sexual relations with such an employee or contractor.