The bill amends Section 10-7-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 10-7 entitled "Death by Wrongful Act." It specifies that actions under this chapter, except for those brought under § 10-7-1.2, must be brought by the executor or administrator of the deceased. The recovered amount is to be distributed to the spouse, children, or next of kin, with the exclusion of any person in willful contempt of a child support order for the deceased. Actions under § 10-7-1.2 are to be brought by those who have sustained a loss of society, companionship, and/or consortium.

The bill introduces a significant change to the statute of limitations for wrongful acts resulting in the death of a child in utero or within six months after birth, extending the period to commence action to ten years after the child's death. Additionally, it establishes a minimum recovery amount of $350,000 for any person or corporation found liable under §§ 10-7-1 — 10-7-4. The act is set to take effect upon passage and aims to expand the legal recourse for wrongful acts leading to the death of a child in its early stages of life.

Statutes affected:
7375: 10-7-2