Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H476 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/16/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3113       FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 476
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carole A. Fiola
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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 providing for alternatives to fines for failure to send.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol1/11/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/24/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/30/2023Paul A. Schmid, III8th Bristol2/1/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/15/2023 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3113       FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 476
By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 476) of 
Carole A. Fiola and others relative to providing for alternative penalties for failure to send 
children to school. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 587 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act providing for alternatives to fines for failure to send.
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 2 of chapter 76 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following 
2paragraph:-
3 Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the court 
4may, as an alternative to the fine provided herein, order a person in control of a child and the 
5child described in section 1, who fails to attend school under this section, to attend a counseling 
6program or other appropriate program or services, as determined by the court. If the court finds 
7that the child, and a person in control of such child, have successfully completed the court 
8ordered programs or services the court shall dismiss the charge under this section against the 
9defendant. Charges under this section shall be assigned to an expedited docket for disposition.