Amendment ID: S3111-1-R1

Redraft Amendment 1

Child Protection Through Training

Mr. Feeney and Ms. Lovely move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 10 the following section:- 

“SECTION 10A. Section 1 of chapter 18C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Child advocate” the following 2 definitions:-

“Child-serving individual”, an individual who, in their professional role, has consistent access to children and is often alone with children under the age of 18 or responsible for their care; provided, however, that  a “child-serving individual” may be an employee, a contractor or temporary employee at a public or private organization.

“Child-serving volunteer”, an individual who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, provides services or supports in a capacity that involves direct contact with, supervision of or responsibility for the care, education, treatment or welfare of children under the age of 18 at a public or private organization, including, but not limited to, volunteers in schools, childcare programs, youth-serving organizations, recreational or athletic programs, faith-based programs, mentoring or tutoring services and residential or congregate care settings.”;

and in section 16, by striking out proposed subsection (h) of section 2 of chapter 18C and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

“(h) maintain a publicly available website that shall make materials available for mandated reporters, child-serving individuals and child-serving volunteers, including, but not limited to trainings and online certification of completion of said trainings, guidance, statutory references, resources for individuals and families and best practices; provided, however, that such materials shall include information about  recognizing the signs of child neglect or abuse; preventing, identifying and reporting child sexual abuse and problematic sexual behaviors between minors; the ways in which the behavioral and verbal cues for sexual abuse differ from those of other forms of abuse and neglect; bias and cultural considerations;  how to address concerns with families and children when concerns do not rise to the level maltreatment; connecting families with needed supports and resources; how to understand what may qualify as neglect; and options for voluntary or mandatory reporting. ”.