HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3290        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kate Hogan

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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 relative to the abduction of children.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3290        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3295

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to the abduction of children.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 209B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 15. No court in the commonwealth shall allow the visitation of a child to a country that is not a signatory of the Hague Convention in the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, without the consent of both parents or persons acting as a parent defined by section 1. This section shall only apply when Massachusetts has jurisdiction of a child pursuant to section 2.

A parent or acting parent who does not obtain and provide to the court the consent of the other parent or acting parent of the child prior to removing the child from the United States shall be subject to penalties promulgated by section 26A of chapter 265.