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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 841 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3537
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Danillo A. Sena
_________________
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 the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and
neglect.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex1/17/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 841 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3537
By Representative Sena of Acton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3537) of Danillo
A. Sena and Vanna Howard relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence
and child abuse and neglect. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3694 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and
neglect.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 51B of Chapter 119 of the Generals Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph (s) to read as follows:
3 “(s) If a report is accepted as a credible allegation of domestic abuse or child abuse or
4neglect as defined by the department of children and families, the department shall collect
5information concerning the military status of the spouse, intimate partner, parent or guardian of
6the child who is the subject of the report and shall share information about the allegation with the
7appropriate military authorities in accordance with the memorandum of understanding described
8in section 51D.” 2 of 2
9 Section 2. Section 51D of Chapter 119, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
10hereby amended by adding the following paragraph immediately following the paragraph
11beginning with “Each area director shall file a monthly report”:
12 “Each area director shall, on behalf of the department, enter into a memorandum of
13understanding with the military family advocacy program at a local military installation with
14respect to child abuse and neglect investigations. For the purposes of this section, "military
15family advocacy program" shall mean the program established by the United States Department
16of Defense to address child abuse and neglect in military families. Such memorandum of
17understanding shall establish procedures and protocols for matters including, but not limited to,
18(i) identifying an individual credibly alleged to have committed abuse or neglect as military
19personnel; (ii) identifying appropriate circumstances for reporting to the military family
20advocacy program without reducing likelihood of reporting or creating undue risk to the health
21or wellbeing of the spouse, intimate partner, or child; (iii) reporting to a military family advocacy
22program when an investigation implicating military personnel has been initiated; and (iv)
23maintaining confidentiality requirements under state and federal law.”
24 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.