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S 1228

Relates to requiring advertisements to disclose the use of a synthetic performer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Gianaris

lowers the delinquency age to 10, bringing kids 10–11 into juvenile court for offenses (with key exclusions for minor first offenses).

COMMITTED TO RULES
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Bill Summary · S 1228

Summary — S.1228 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)

Title on file: "An Act relative to juvenile offenders"
Filed: 01/16/2025 — Presented by Sen. Patrick M. O'Connor

Note: the package you provided contains conflicting metadata (an unrelated federal-style title about synthetic performers, multiple PDF file fragments, and lists of federal senators). This summary is based on the enrolled bill text included in the packet titled "An Act relative to juvenile offenders."

Purpose / Intent

The bill lowers the minimum age at which a child may be treated as a "delinquent child" under Massachusetts juvenile law and updates the statutory definition to reflect that change. The intent is to bring children aged 10 and older into the scope of delinquency jurisdiction (subject to specified exclusions).

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 52 of Chapter 119 (definitions):
    • Replaces the existing definition of “Delinquent child” with: a child between 10 and 18 years of age who commits any offense against a Commonwealth law.
    • Retains explicit exclusions: the definition does not include civil infractions, violations of municipal ordinances or by‑laws, or a first offense of a misdemeanor for which the possible punishment is a fine, imprisonment in jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or both.
  • Amends Section 54 of Chapter 119:
    • Replaces the figure “12” with “10” (i.e., lowers the age threshold referenced in that section from 12 to 10).
  • Effective date:
    • The Act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Children aged 10 and 11 who commit qualifying offenses would become subject to Massachusetts juvenile delinquency jurisdiction where previously the statutory minimum age was 12.
  • Impacted systems and actors:
    • Juvenile and family courts, prosecutors, public defenders, probation and juvenile justice service providers.
    • Local law enforcement, school officials, and social service agencies that interact with younger juveniles accused of offenses.
    • Families and communities of affected youth.
  • Excluded conduct (civil infractions, municipal ordinance violations, and first-time low-level misdemeanor punishable by ≤6 months) would not bring a child into delinquency under the new definition.

Procedural status (selected)

  • Filed / Presented: 01/16/2025 (Senate docket No. 1510)
  • Referred to: Judiciary (initially), with subsequent committee actions reflected in the record (multiple references to Consumer Protection and other committees in the provided legislative history).
  • Hearings: Committee hearing(s) were scheduled for June 10, 2025 (per the record).
  • Latest recorded status in the provided file: COMMITTED TO RULES (06/13/2025).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Short term: increased juvenile cases for ages 10–11 may raise demand for court resources, intake screening, diversion programs, and juvenile services.
  • Policy considerations: balancing public safety and accountability with developmental science about younger children, availability of rehabilitation and diversion options, potential impacts on school discipline and family involvement, and budgetary consequences for juvenile services and detention (if used).
  • Note: the measure retains exclusions for low-level or first-time offenses, which may mitigate some increase in formal processing.

If you want, I can:
- Compare the bill text to current Chapter 119 language and provide the exact statutory cross-references before/after change; or
- Draft a one‑page brief for stakeholders (courts, child welfare agencies, police) outlining operational impacts and recommended implementation steps.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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