Bill > S870

This bill proposes to amend Section 85K of Chapter 231 of the General Laws to clarify the charitable purposes of certain organizations by modifying the existing law regarding tort liability for charities. Previously, the law stated that being a charity could not be used as a defense against a tort action, meaning charities could be held fully liable for damages caused by their actions. However, this bill introduces a limitation on that liability. Specifically, if a tort (a wrongful act that causes harm) occurs during an activity directly related to the organization's charitable purposes, and the organization receives more than fifty percent of its income from charitable gifts or donations, or if the organization is primarily for religious purposes, then the maximum liability for damages will be capped at twenty thousand dollars, excluding interest and costs. This change aims to protect certain charitable and religious organizations from potentially overwhelming financial judgments while still holding them accountable for their actions.