Bill > S868

This bill proposes to amend Chapter 268 of the General Laws by adding a new section, Section 21C, which establishes a civil cause of action for individuals under the age of 19 who are sexually abused by employees or contractors of public or private schools, institutions of higher learning, or specific state departments (youth services, social services, mental health, developmental disabilities), or private institutions serving clients of these departments. This cause of action would be brought under Chapter 260, Section 4C, and importantly, in such civil actions, a person served by these institutions would be legally considered incapable of consenting to sexual relations with the employee or contractor, regardless of where the abuse occurred.