Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2336 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1740 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2336
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Susan L. Moran
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 the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and
13	13	neglect.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Susan L. MoranPlymouth and BarnstableMichael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/15/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/22/2023 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1740 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2336
19	19	By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2336) of Susan L. Moran, Michael
20	20	O. Moore and Anne M. Gobi for legislation relative to the military family advocacy program,
21	21	domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
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 the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and
28	28	neglect.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Section 51B of chapter 119 of the Generals Laws, as appearing in the 2020
32	32	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after subsection (r), the following subsection:-
33	33	3 (s) If a report is accepted as a credible allegation of domestic abuse or child abuse or
34	34	4neglect as defined by the department of children and families, the department shall collect
35	35	5information concerning the military status of the spouse, intimate partner, parent or guardian of
36	36	6the child who is the subject of the report and shall share information about the allegation with the
37	37	7appropriate military authorities in accordance with the memorandum of understanding described
38	38	8in section 51D.
39	39	9 SECTION 2. Section 51D of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
40	40	10adding, after the last paragraph, the following paragraph:- 2 of 2
41	41	11 Each area director shall, on behalf of the department, enter into a memorandum of
42	42	12understanding with the military family advocacy program at a local military installation with
43	43	13respect to child abuse and neglect investigations. For the purposes of this section, "military
44	44	14family advocacy program" shall mean the program established by the United States Department
45	45	15of Defense to address child abuse and neglect in military families. Such memorandum of
46	46	16understanding shall establish procedures and protocols for matters including, but not limited to,
47	47	17(a) identifying an individual credibly alleged to have committed abuse or neglect as military
48	48	18personnel; (b) identifying appropriate circumstances for reporting to the military family
49	49	19advocacy program without reducing likelihood of reporting or creating undue risk to the health
50	50	20or wellbeing of the spouse, intimate partner, or child; (c) reporting to a military family advocacy
51	51	21program when an investigation implicating military personnel has been initiated; and (d)
52	52	22maintaining confidentiality requirements under state and federal law.
53	53	23 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect immediately.