BOSTON — Lawmakers joined by the family of Conrad Roy III announced Wednesday the filing of “Conrad’s Law,” a bill that would criminalize suicide coercion in Massachusetts, officials said.

The measure is named after the Roy, an 18-year-old Mattapoisett man whose suicide was encouraged by his girlfriend Michelle Carter, a 22-year-old Plainville woman who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and is serving a sentence at the Bristol County House of Correction.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny, D-New Bedford, calls for a maximum five-year state prison term for anyone convicted, according to Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, whose office prosecuted Carter. It was filed by Sen. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.

Conrad’s mother, Lynn Roy, participated in the creation of the bill and hopes that it will prevent future tragedies, according to a press statement for Sen. Mark C. Montigny’s office. ”‘Conrad’s Law’ has nothing to do with seeking justice for my son. This law has everything to do with preventing this from happening again to others who are struggling with mental illness and suicidal ideation,” Lynn Roy. “If this law is successful in saving one life, then all of this work will be clearly worth it.”

Montigny, a lead co-sponsor of the bill, said: “It is unacceptable that Massachusetts law remains ill-equipped to deal with these cases. We must do better to protect these vulnerable, young lives, especially when teen bullying and suicide rates continue to increase. If this legislation can prevent even just one tragedy and the pain and suffering that comes with it, then it is more than worth our best effort.”

The bill imposes criminal liability on a person who has actual knowledge of another person’s suicidal ideation and either coerces or encourages the other person to commit suicide, provides the physical means or has knowledge of such means to do so, Montigny’s office said.

To be liable for coercing or encouraging suicide, a person must also have substantial control or undue influence over the victim or must have manipulated the victim’s behavior through fraud or deceit, the senator’s office said.

Massachusetts is one of 10 states across the United States that does not have such a law.

Quinn released the following statement on the proposed law: “With suicide rates and bullying on the rise, it is imperative that we do all we can to protect our most vulnerable populations from those who would take advantage of someone in a state of mental or emotional distress. While the charge of involuntary manslaughter has been shown to fit in the most egregious of cases, it is important for Massachusetts to join with 40 others states across the country who have already passed suicide by coercion laws for those cases that do not rise to the level of manslaughter.

“My office is keenly aware of the roller coaster of emotions the Roy family has gone through during the past five years. After losing their son forever, they soon learned from police and prosecutors that he was the victim of a crime and that his close friend had callously violated their trust,” he said.

“The family then had to sit through years of court proceedings, a widely publicized trial, the onslaught of media coverage and an appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court before finally getting the measure of justice they deserved.

“Throughout the entire process, Lynn Roy and the entire family presented themselves with grace and dignity. My office is proud to support Lynn Roy, Senators Finegold and Montigny, along with Rep. Higgins, in this critical legislative effort and I look forward to testifying on behalf of the bill when it gets its hearing,” he said.

In a statement, defense attorney Joseph P. Cataldo of Franklin said: “It appears as if the legislature is attempting to narrowly draw legislation that will prohibit a particularized area of speech that encourages suicide. I believe this is an acknowledge that in the Michelle Carter case we had both prosecutorial and judicial overreach. I have always maintained Massachusetts had no law criminalizing Michelle Carter’s speech. Clearly the legislature recognizes to be the case."