SENATE DOCKET, NO. 940        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 63

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

_________________

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 protecting certain employees of private schools from frivolous reports filed pursuant to section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 940        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 63

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 63) of Michael F. Rush for legislation to protect certain employees of private schools from frivolous reports filed pursuant to section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act protecting certain employees of private schools from frivolous reports filed pursuant to section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws.

 

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an at-will non-management employee of a private school in the commonwealth who in a report filed under section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws is suspected of child abuse or neglect shall not be discharged from employment without a review of the report and a fair hearing held to determine the validity of the report.  The employee shall have the right to be represented at the hearing by an attorney, to examine and cross examine witnesses and to receive a stenographic transcript of the hearing, the cost of the transcript to be at the employer’s expense.