HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3423        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4046

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adrianne Pusateri Ramos

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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 establishing a special commission to study alimony.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3423        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4046

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish a special commission to study the alimony system in the commonwealth, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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

(a) There shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a special commission to study alimony and recommend any improvements to the alimony system in the commonwealth.

(b) The special commission shall be comprised of the following members: the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the chief justice of the probate and family court; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Bar Association, who shall have expertise in family law and alimony; and 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, who shall have expertise in family law and alimony.

(c) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) statewide trends in alimony awards over time, including determining what percentage of alimony awards constitutes each time of alimony and how often courts grant requests for modifications of alimony; (ii) a review of the formula used for determining alimony in the commonwealth, including a tax analysis of the current formula; (iii) analysis on the economic implications of alimony on families in the commonwealth; (iv) comparison of Massachusetts alimony laws with alimony laws in other states, including trends pertaining to alimony; (v) analysis of the interplay between alimony and child support; (vi) court enforcement of alimony, particularly with regard to whether and how enforcement differs from enforcement of child support; (vii) the uniformity of the application of alimony laws among counties in the commonwealth; and (viii) any recommendations on changes to the alimony system in the commonwealth.

(d) The commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along with any recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) joint committee on the judiciary; and (ii) clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.