SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1080        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1647

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act relative to the appointment of GAL to institute contempt proceedings..

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.  Chapter 215 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1996 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 56B and inserting in place thereof the following section:—            Section 56B. Any judge of a probate and family court may appoint a guardian ad litem to institute contempt proceedings under the provisions of section thirty-four A against any party for failure to obey judgements of the probate and family court involving care, custody or maintenance of minor children, and said guardian ad litem may personally serve throughout the commonwealth any summons or capias incidental to the enforcement of this section. The compensation of such guardian ad litem together with any expenses shall be determined by the court and paid as it may order by the defendant or by the commonwealth, upon certification by the judge to the state treasurer. The state police, local police and probation officers shall assist the guardian ad litem so appointed, upon his request.