SENATE, No. 1254

By Mr. McGee, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1254) of Thomas M. McGee and Mary E. Grant for legislation relative to shaken baby syndrome. Public Health

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

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

SECTION 1.

Section 70E of chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the eighth paragraph the following new paragraph:

      “Every parent or guardian of a newborn, at the time of discharge from a hospital or birth center, shall receive educational materials, to be developed by the Department of Public Health, describing the dangers of shaking infants and young children, so-called “Shaken Baby Syndrome”.  The materials shall include, but not be limited to, information on the medical effects of shaking infants and young children, appropriate ways to manage the causes of shaking infants and young children, prevention measures and how to reduce the risks of shaking infants and young children, and the availability of community based programs and other resources to prevent “Shaken Baby Syndrome.”