The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

PETITION OF ROBERT HESKET et al.

In the Year Two Thousand and Eight

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF BELTS OR OTHER INJURIOUS INSTRUMENTS TO DISCIPLINE CHILDREN

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1: Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 51 B, a new Section51 B 1/2, as follows:

Section 51 B . THE USE OF BELTS OR OTHER INJURIOUS INSTRUMENTS TO DISCIPLINE CHILDREN IS PROHIBITED

The use of belts or other injurious instruments to discipline children is not reasonable force and violates their rights, under the Massachusetts Constitution, to safe, secure andrespectful care.

The provisions of this section are intended to eliminate only the use of belts or other injurious instruments to discipline children because of the risks of injurious bodily harm that are associated with those forms of corporal punishment.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:

* Child, any person under eighteen years of age. * The willful infliction of physical pain through the use of belts or other injurious instruments.

(b) It shall be unlawful in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for any parent or guardian to use belts or other hard instruments to discipline children.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude any parent or guardians from using incidental, non-instrumental or reasonable force with the intent to maintain order and control or other discipline.

(d) The use of belts or other injurious instruments on a child by anyone shall be considered an act of criminal assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Family Non-Violence, Inc would appreciate any individual or agency to send a letter of support concerning the above petition to their state representatives and a copy of that letter to our board at the below address. We thank you in advance for your support.

DRAFT COPY OF LETTER OF SUPPORT Title above Or your agency here

Family Non-violence, Inc.
P. O. Box 814
Fairhaven, MA 02719

The [your agency or name] is fully committed to supporting Family Non-violence, Inc. in its attempt to pass a legislative act that will prohibit the use of belts or other instruments to discipline children because of the risks of bodily harm that are associated with those forms of corporal punishment. The provisions of the legislative act shall not preclude any parent from using reasonable force designed to maintain order, control or discipline. Very truly yours, Agency/name

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