HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1401        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 754

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Claire D. Cronin

_________________

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 parent-child privilege.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

1/18/2017

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

 

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

 

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

 

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

 

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 

Daniel Cullinane

12th Suffolk

 

Evandro C. Carvalho

5th Suffolk

 

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

 

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

 

Jeffrey N. Roy

10th Norfolk

 

Thomas P. Walsh

12th Essex

 

Natalie Higgins

4th Worcester

 

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

 

Gerard Cassidy

9th Plymouth

 

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1401        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 754

By Ms. Cronin of Easton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 754) of Claire D. Cronin and others relative to testimony of certain parents or minor children.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to parent-child privilege.

 

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 20 of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the Fourth clause, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

Fourth, in a proceeding before an inquest, grand jury, trial of indictment or complaint, or any other criminal, delinquency or youthful offender proceeding where the victim in such proceeding is not a family member and does not reside in the family household, neither the parent nor minor child shall testify against the other without the other’s permission. For the purpose of this clause the term, “parent”, shall mean the biological or adoptive parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of a child. In cases where the victim is a family member and resides in said household, the parent shall not testify as to any communication with such child that was for the purpose of seeking advice regarding the child’s legal rights and decision making