Bill Text: MA H1781 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced


Bill Title: Reducing domestic violence in the Commonwealth

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-01-20 - Public Hearing date 7/14 at 11:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium [H1781 Detail]

Download: Massachusetts-2009-H1781-Introduced.html

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven M. Walsh

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act to reduce domestic violence in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Steven M. Walsh

11th Essex


 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1768 OF 2007-2008.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act to reduce domestic violence in the Commonwealth.



                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

            SECTION 1. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 13L, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, the following section:-

Section 13M. Whoever commits assault or assault and battery on a family or household member shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ˝ years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years. For the purposes of this section, “family or household member” shall be limited to persons who, on the date of the offense or within 5 years before the date of the offense: (a) are or were married to one another; (b) are or were residing together in the same household; (c) are or were related by blood or marriage; (d) have a child in common regardless of whether they have ever married or lived together; or (e) are or have been in a substantive dating or engagement relationship, which shall be determined by considering the following factors: (1) the length of time of the relationship; (2) the type of relationship; (3) the frequency of interaction between the parties; and (4) if the relationship has been terminated by either person, the length of time elapsed since the termination of the relationship.

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