HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1155        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1510

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joan Meschino

_________________

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 accelerate a child’s reunification with family members.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Joan Meschino

3rd Plymouth

1/15/2019

Mindy Domb

3rd Hampshire

2/1/2019

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Carlos González

10th Hampden

1/30/2019

Stephan Hay

3rd Worcester

1/30/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Kathleen R. LaNatra

12th Plymouth

1/29/2019

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

1/26/2019

Bud L. Williams

11th Hampden

1/17/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1155        FILED ON: 1/15/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1510

By Ms. Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1510) of Joan Meschino and others for legislation to expedite the reunification of children under temporary custody with family members.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3106 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to accelerate a child’s reunification with family members.

 

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. Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 25, the following new section:-

Section 25A. Any time after granting temporary custody of a child to the department, the court may review and revise that order sua sponte to allow for the child to be placed in the custody of a parent, guardian, custodian, or a suitable third party. No sooner than 60 days after the filing of the care and protection petition under section 24, any party may file a motion requesting such a review. If the party alleges that there has been a material change in circumstances, the court shall take evidence on the issue to determine whether a modification of the order is warranted.