Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H198 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2213 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 198
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jack Patrick Lewis
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to animal welfare and DCF regulations.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/19/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/20/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/3/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/4/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/6/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/6/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/7/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/7/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/8/2023Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk2/14/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/15/2023John Barrett, III1st Berkshire2/16/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol3/2/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex3/2/2023Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk3/9/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2213 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 198
18	18	By Representative Lewis of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 198) of
19	19	Jack Patrick Lewis and others that investigations of applications for adoption or foster parenting
20	20	conducted by the Department of Children and Families include veterinary records of animals
21	21	maintained on the premises. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to animal welfare and DCF regulations.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 42 of Chapter 19A, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition of the
31	31	2General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 52, the words “During any investigation
32	32	3or evaluation reported under section 18, any” and replacing with the following word: -
33	33	4 Any
34	34	5 SECTION 2. Section 14 of Chapter 19C, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition of the
35	35	6General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the words “During any investigation
36	36	7or evaluation reported under section 5, any” and replacing with the following word: -
37	37	8 Any
38	38	9 SECTION 3. Section 85 of Chapter 119, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition of the
39	39	10General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the words “During any investigation
40	40	11or evaluation reported under section 51A, any” and replacing with the following word: - 2 of 3
41	41	12 Any
42	42	13 SECTION 4. Chapter 119, as appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new
43	43	14section:-
44	44	15 Section 26D.
45	45	16 The Department reserves the right to request that a foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant or
46	46	17foster/pre-adoptive parent obtain and provide a copy of a behavior/temperament assessment
47	47	18and/or provide veterinary records on any animal maintained on the premises used as a foster/pre-
48	48	19adoptive home. The cost of the behavior/temperament assessment will be borne by the foster/pre-
49	49	20adoptive parent or applicant. The Department shall not restrict placement of a child solely based
50	50	21on the presence of any particular breed of dog in the home. The department may consider:
51	51	22 (a) The age, size, and sex of the child;
52	52	23 (b) Any prior incidents of dangerous behavior between child and animals in previous
53	53	24placements;
54	54	25 (c) Dog is free from disease and parasites and licensed and vaccinated as prescribed by
55	55	26law;
56	56	27 (d) The age, sex, and size of the dog;
57	57	28 (e) Whether the dog has been neutered;
58	58	29 (f) A copy of a behavior/temperament assessment, the cost of which should be borne by
59	59	30the foster/pre-adoptive parent or applicant; 3 of 3
60	60	31 (g) Veterinary records and contact information of veterinarian of any animal on the
61	61	32premises used as a foster/pre-adoptive home;
62	62	33 (h) Any prior incidents of dangerous behavior/incidents by the dog;
63	63	34 (i) Behavioral aspects of the child(ren);
64	64	35 (j) Number of dogs on the premises; and
65	65	36 (k) Whether the dog is penned or caged at any time, and if so, under what circumstances
66	66	37and for what purpose.
67	67	38 The Department reserves the right to request that the foster/pre-adoptive parent applicant
68	68	39or foster/pre-adoptive parent obtain and provide any other information deemed necessary to the
69	69	40safety and well-being of the children as it relates to the status of animals in the home.
70	70	41 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department
71	71	42of children and families may promulgate regulations for the purpose of implementing this Act.