Bill > H1742

This bill modifies Section 85K of Chapter 231 of the Massachusetts General Laws to clarify liability protections for charitable organizations. Specifically, the bill removes the blanket immunity from tort (civil wrongdoing) actions that charitable organizations previously enjoyed and replaces it with a more nuanced standard. Under the new provision, a charitable organization cannot simply use its charitable status as a defense against a lawsuit. However, if the tortious action occurred during an activity directly related to the organization's charitable purpose, and the organization receives more than 50% of its income from charitable gifts or donations, the maximum liability would be limited to $20,000, excluding interest and legal costs. This change aims to provide some financial protection for charitable organizations while ensuring they can still be held accountable for negligence or wrongdoing that occurs during their charitable activities.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1742