HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 841        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3537

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Danillo A. Sena

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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 military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 841        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3537

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3694 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

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 51B of Chapter 119 of the Generals Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph (s) to read as follows:

“(s) If a report is accepted as a credible allegation of domestic abuse or child abuse or neglect as defined by the department of children and families, the department shall collect information concerning the military status of the spouse, intimate partner, parent or guardian of the child who is the subject of the report and shall share information about the allegation with the appropriate military authorities in accordance with the memorandum of understanding described in section 51D.”

Section 2. Section 51D of Chapter 119, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph immediately following the paragraph beginning with “Each area director shall file a monthly report”:

“Each area director shall, on behalf of the department, enter into a memorandum of understanding with the military family advocacy program at a local military installation with respect to child abuse and neglect investigations. For the purposes of this section, "military family advocacy program" shall mean the program established by the United States Department of Defense to address child abuse and neglect in military families. Such memorandum of understanding shall establish procedures and protocols for matters including, but not limited to, (i) identifying an individual credibly alleged to have committed abuse or neglect as military personnel; (ii) identifying appropriate circumstances for reporting to the military family advocacy program without reducing likelihood of reporting or creating undue risk to the health or wellbeing of the spouse, intimate partner, or child; (iii) reporting to a military family advocacy program when an investigation implicating military personnel has been initiated; and (iv) maintaining confidentiality requirements under state and federal law.”

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.