HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 597        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1398

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act prohibiting court ordered visitation rights to persons convicted of criminal offenses against a minor..

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 28 of Chapter 208 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:—No court shall make an order providing visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of sexual abuse and/or other crimes against children including but not limited to one or more of the following: Ch. 265, sections 13B, 13H, 13J, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26, 26A, 27A, Chapter 272, sections 1, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 16, 17, 28, 29A, 29B, 35, 35A, unless such child is of suitable age and assents to such order and a guardian ad litem finds the visitation is in the best interest of the child.

SECTION 2. Section 37 of Chapter 209 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:—No court shall make an order providing visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of sexual abuse and/or other crimes against children including but not limited to one or more of the following: Ch. 265, sections 13B, 13H, 13J, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26, 26A, 27A, Chapter 272, sections 1, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 16, 17, 28, 29A, 29B, 35, 35A, unless such child is of suitable age and assents to such order and a guardian ad litem finds the visitation is in the best interest of the child.