SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1860        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1135

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

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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 establishing a divorce task force.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1860        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1135

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1034 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act establishing a divorce task force.

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

There is hereby established the Commonwealth divorce task force, whose purpose shall be to examine, evaluate, and analyze the system of divorce in Massachusetts, and to make any recommendations necessary to improve its efficiency and fairness, and to eliminate any adverse impacts on all parties affected by the system, including but not limited to, litigants and their children, attorneys, and the judges and staff of the probate and family court. The task force shall consider matters including but not limited to prenuptial agreements, mediation, division of assets, child custody, and the duration and efficiency of court and related proceedings.

The task force shall consist of the following members: 3 members appointed by the governor, each having knowledge and experience related to probate and family law in the state of Massachusetts, one of which shall be designated and serve as chair; 2 members appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house; the attorney general or a designee; 1 member representing the Massachusetts bar association; 2 members representing the probate and family court, appointed by the chief justice of the court; 1 member representing the Massachusetts office of public collaboration; and 1 member representing the children’s league of Massachusetts.

The task force shall file a report containing its findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than June 31, 2022.