Bill > H2043

This bill aims to amend Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1) increasing the maximum civil penalty for violations of municipal ordinances and by-laws from three to five dollars, and 2) allowing the court, in any suit in equity brought by a city or town to enforce an ordinance or by-law, to assess a civil penalty in addition to any equitable relief ordered, and to consider various factors in determining the amount of the penalty, such as the willfulness of the violation, the harm to public health and safety, the economic benefit gained by the defendant, the cost to the city or town, the defendant's history of non-compliance, and whether the defendant made good faith efforts to cure or cease the violation.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H2043