SENATE DOCKET, NO. 293        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 64

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

_________________

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 support families.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

2/15/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 293        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 64

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 64) of Joanne M. Comerford and Jason M. Lewis for legislation to support families.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to support 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 1. The first paragraph of subsection (a) of section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,  is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the words:- ; (iii) physical dependence upon an addictive drug at birth.

SECTION 2. Said section 51A of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following subsection:-

(a½) Separate from the reporting requirements under subsection (a), health care providers involved in the delivery or care of infants affected by in-utero substance exposure or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, shall notify the department of such condition in such infants as required under 42 U.S.C. § 1506a(b)(2)(B)(ii). Such notification shall not include the names or identifying information of the parents or the infant, shall not constitute a report that any parent has abused or neglected a child, and shall not trigger or require prosecution for any illegal action.