HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3446 FILED ON: 1/18/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1511
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Moran, (BY REQUEST)
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to reform foster care services for children with regards to best interest representation.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Deborah Raptopoulos | 190 Ivy Street, Brookline, MA 02446 |
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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3446 FILED ON: 1/18/2013
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1511
By Mr. Moran of Boston (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1511) of Deborah Raptopoulos for legislation to reform foster care services for children with regards to best interest representation. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen
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An Act to reform foster care services for children with regards to best interest representation.
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 25 of Chapter 119 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding after Section 1 the following section:-
“SECTION 2: If the court commits a child to the custody of the department, the court shall appoint a best interest representative for the child. Every child with a care and protection case open, therefore, shall have a best interest representative. Presently the child's attorney does not represent the child's best interest but instead has an ethical responsibility to represent what the child wants therefore no party comes into court with the sole purpose of representing the child."