SECTION 1. Said chapter 119 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following new section:--Section 39DD. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term “dependent on the court” shall mean subject to the jurisdiction of the court for the findings, orders, and referrals enumerated in this section but shall not constitute a finding of legal incompetence.

(b) The divisions of the probate and family court department shall hear petitions of persons, who have attained the age of 18 but remain under the age of 21, seeking a determination that, as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment that the petitioner suffered as a child, it is in the best interest of the petitioner not to return to the petitioner’s or the petitioner’s parent’s previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence. 

(c)  Upon reviewing the petition and any supporting affidavits, the court shall issue findings of fact which (1) declare the petitioner dependent upon the court as defined in this section; (2) determine whether the petitioner suffered as a child from abuse, neglect or abandonment as those terms are defined in 110 CMR 2.00, chapter 119 or in section 3 of chapter 210 of the General Laws; (3) determine whether reunification with one or both parents is not viable due to the abuse, neglect, or abandonment; and (4) determine whether as a result of the abuse, neglect or abandonment, it is not in the petitioner’s best interest to be returned to the petitioner’s or the petitioner’s parent’s previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence. 

The health and safety of the petitioner shall be of paramount, but not exclusive, concern in the above determinations.  When considering the health and safety of the petitioner, the court shall consider whether the petitioner’s present or past living conditions will adversely affect his physical, mental, moral or emotional health.

(d) The petitioner under this section may also request orders necessary to protect against further abuse, including, but not limited to, filing a complaint for an abuse prevention order as set out in chapter 209A of the General Laws. 

(e) The court may refer the petitioner to a probation officer for assistance and such officer shall have the authority to make referrals to an appropriate public or private organization or person for psychiatric, psychological, educational, occupational, medical, dental or social services.  The petitioner may not be compelled to participate in the referrals.

(f) The court shall hear the petition and issue the findings of fact under this section before the petitioner attains the age of 21.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the divisions of the probate and family court department or the juvenile court department from issuing similar findings of fact to those in subsection (c) in any proceedings related to a child.