SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2298        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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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 training of mandated reporters.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2298        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 training of mandated reporters.

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 51A of Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out subsection (k) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(k) A mandated reporter who is professionally licensed by the commonwealth shall complete training at least every two years to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect. The training shall have a curriculum that has been approved by the Office of the Child Advocate. 

SECTION 2. Section 5 of Chapter 18C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(i) The child advocate shall be responsible for approving curricula for mandated reporter trainings in accordance with M.G.L. c. 119 § 51A(k). Such curricula shall include, but not be limited to, recognition of the signs of child neglect or abuse and related reporting requirements, bias and cultural considerations in reporting, information on how to address concerns with families and children when those concerns do not rise to the level of requiring a maltreatment report, information about connecting families with needed supports and resources and how to understand what qualifies as neglect.