HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4650        FILED ON: 11/20/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Alyson M. Sullivan, (BY REQUEST)

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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 relative to the funeral and burial of children in care of the Department of Children and Families.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4650        FILED ON: 11/20/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to the funeral and burial of children in care of the Department of Children and Families.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 23 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(d) The department shall pay a sum not exceeding $10,000 for the funeral and burial of a child in its care to a funeral establishment in consultation with the parents of the deceased. Any resources of the child shall be deducted from the maximum cost of the funeral and burial allowable here under and the difference shall be paid by the department. If the parents of the child refuse or cannot be contacted, the department shall make and pay for appropriate burial arrangements for a child in their custody independently.