Massachusetts HD 1022: An Act enhancing child safety

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1022 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2384

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James J. O'Day
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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 adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act enhancing child safety.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
James J. O'Day 14th Worcester 1/18/2023
Daniel M. Donahue 16th Worcester 1/26/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1022 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2384
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2384)
of James J. O'Day and Daniel M. Donahue for legislation to require landlords to install window
guards in certain residential units housing children under 10 years of age. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act enhancing child safety.

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

1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in 2020 Official Edition, is
2 hereby amended by inserting after section 127P the following section:- Section 127Q. Any
3 landlord who has a tenant in a residential unit with a window higher than 6 feet off the ground
4 shall inform the tenant that the landlord shall install window guards in any such windows at no
5 additional cost to the tenant when the tenant can document the presence of children under 10
6 years of age in the unit. If any such windows are an access to fire escape routes or structures, the
7 window guard shall be removable. The tenant shall not remove the window guards for any
8 reason except emergency egress in times of a fire or other situation involving hazardous
9 materials. The obligations of a landlord to install window guards under this section shall not
10 affect the ability of a renter to lease the unit; and any discrimination by the landlord in this regard
11 shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $250 but not more than $500.