HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2641        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1262

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Diana DiZoglio

_________________

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 mandated reporter law.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Diana DiZoglio

14th Essex

1/16/2015

James R. Miceli

19th Middlesex

9/16/2019

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

9/16/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

9/16/2019

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

9/16/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2641        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1262

By Ms. DiZoglio of Methuen, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1262) of Diana DiZoglio and others relative to the reporting of neglect or abuse by mandated reporters.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1295 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the mandated reporter law.

 

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 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 10 of chapter 178 of the acts of 2011, is hereby further amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(a)A mandated reporter who, in his or her professional capacity, has reasonable cause to believe that a child is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from: (i) abuse inflicted upon him which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare, including sexual abuse; (ii) neglect, including malnutrition; (iii) physical dependence upon an addictive drug at birth, (iv) being a sexually exploited child; or (v) being a human trafficking victim as defined by section 20M of chapter 233, shall immediately communicate with the department orally and, within 48 hours, shall file a written report with the department detailing the suspected abuse or neglect.  A mandated reporter who, in his or her professional capacity, becomes aware of a sexually exploitative relationship between a child under the age of 18 and another mandated reporter, shall immediately communicate with the department orally and, within 48 hours, shall file a written report with the department detailing the suspected exploitation.