Massachusetts H 2116: An Act enhancing child safety

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1137 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2116

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 1/15/2019
Colleen M. Garry 36th Middlesex 1/30/2019
Carlos González 10th Hampden 1/28/2019
James K. Hawkins 2nd Bristol 1/28/2019
Stephan Hay 3rd Worcester 1/30/2019
Kay Khan 11th Middlesex 1/29/2019
José F. Tosado 9th Hampden 1/25/2019
Timothy R. Whelan 1st Barnstable 1/30/2019
Patrick Joseph Kearney 4th Plymouth 2/1/2019

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1137 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2116
By Mr. O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2116) of James J.
O'Day and others for legislation to require landlords to install window guards in certain
windows. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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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 2016 Official Edition, is
2 hereby amended by inserting after section 127P the following section:-
3 Section 127Q. Any landlord who has a tenant in a residential unit with a window higher
4 than 6 feet off the ground shall inform the tenant that the landlord shall install window guards in
5 any such windows at no additional cost to the tenant when the tenant can document the presence
6 of children under 10 years of age in the unit. If any such windows are an access to fire escape
7 routes or structures, the window guard shall be removable. The tenant shall not remove the
8 window guards for any reason except emergency egress in times of a fire or other situation
9 involving hazardous materials. The obligations of a landlord to install window guards under this
10 section shall not affect the ability of a renter to lease the unit; and any discrimination by the
11 landlord in this regard shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $250 but not more than $500.