HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1461        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1424

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Colleen M. Garry

_________________

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 prohibiting court ordered visitation rights to any persons convicted of criminal offenses against a minor.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/16/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1461        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1424

By Miss Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1424) of Colleen M. Garry for legislation to prohibit court ordered visitation rights to persons convicted of criminal offenses against minors.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 800 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act prohibiting court ordered visitation rights to any persons convicted of criminal offenses against a minor.

 

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 28 of Chapter 208 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:— No court shall make an order providing visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of sexual abuse and/or other crimes against children including but not limited to one or more of the following: Ch. 265, sections 13B, 13H, 13J, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26, 26A, 27A, Chapter 272, sections 1, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 16, 17, 28, 29A, 29B, 35, 35A, unless such child is of suitable age and assents to such order and a guardian ad litem finds the visitation is in the best interest of the child.

SECTION 2. Section 37 of Chapter 209 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:— No court shall make an order providing visitation rights to a parent who has been convicted of sexual abuse and/or other crimes against children including but not limited to one or more of the following: Ch. 265, sections 13B, 13H, 13J, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26, 26A, 27A, Chapter 272, sections 1, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 16, 17, 28, 29A, 29B, 35, 35A, unless such child is of suitable age and assents to such order and a guardian ad litem finds the visitation is in the best interest of the child.