HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1942        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 77

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

F. Jay Barrows

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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 to authorize the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish additional mandated reporters for the purpose of the protection and care of children.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1942        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 77

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4247 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act to authorize the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish additional mandated reporters for the purpose of the protection and care of children.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish additional mandated reporters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purposes of protection and care of children., therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety.
 

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:

In addition those defined as mandated reporters in MGL chapter 119, section 21, this act requests the following people to also be considered mandated reporters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

a.Any public or private school employee in Massachusetts

b.Persons who care for or work with a child in any public or private child care facility in the Commonwealth, paid or unpaid;

c.All employees in the Commonwealth

d.All volunteers who regularly work with children in locally-based teams and organizations such as volunteer youth sports coaches, church volunteers, park and recreation, library, scouting, boys and girls clubs, YMCA, and any other person in a local youth organization who has contact with children.

e.All of the above apply to persons age 18 and over.

SECTION 2:

All designated mandated reporters in the commonwealth shall be required to take training as provided by the proper state agencies, and any additional refresher training provided by the state certified agencies.