Bill > H1663

This bill establishes a new chapter in Massachusetts law called the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" that creates specific criminal offenses and penalties for causing harm to an unborn child. The bill defines an "unborn child" as a human life from conception until death and introduces several new criminal categories, including murder of an unborn child in first and second degrees, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter of an unborn child, and various assault and battery offenses targeting unborn children. The legislation defines different levels of injury, such as "bodily injury" and "serious bodily injury," and establishes corresponding criminal penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment. Notably, the bill explicitly excludes legal abortions and standard medical procedures from prosecution and specifies that the pregnant woman herself cannot be charged under this law. The bill provides detailed sentencing guidelines, including provisions for different age ranges of offenders and potential parole eligibility, and ensures that prosecution under this act does not prevent additional criminal charges for related offenses. The primary intent appears to be providing legal protection for unborn children by creating specific criminal statutes that recognize harm to an unborn child as a distinct legal offense.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1663