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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 262 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1859
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marc T. Lombardo
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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 titled Justina's law.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marc T. Lombardo22nd Middlesex1/7/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 262 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1859
By Representative Lombardo of Billerica, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1859) of
Marc T. Lombardo relative to indemnifying parents and legal guardians who have followed
medical care recommended by licensed medical or mental health providers. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1656 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act titled Justina's law.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 be amended to add the following new section
251I:
3 51I: (a) A parent or legal guardian shall not be charged with abusing or neglecting a
4child’s need for medical care if:
5 (i) the parent or legal guardian has sought medical care for the child from a licensed
6medical or mental health provider;
7 (ii) the licensed medical or mental health provider has made a diagnosis;
8 (iii) the licensed medical or mental health provider has prescribed a lawful course of
9treatment; and 2 of 2
10 (iv) the parent or legal guardian is following or willing to follow the recommended
11course of treatment.
12 (b) No mandatory reporter, as defined in Section 21 of this Chapter, shall file a report of
13abuse or neglect under Section 51 of this Chapter based solely on a parent’s or legal guardian’s
14decision to follow the recommended treatment of a licensed medical or mental health provider. A
15parent or legal guardian has the right to follow the advice and treatment plan of a licensed
16medical or mental health provider over a contrary opinion or recommended treatment plan of
17another licensed medical or mental health provider when the decision does not involve
18immediate life-threatening conditions. Even in the case of life-threatening conditions, the
19decision of the parent or legal guardian to follow the advice or treatment plan of a licensed
20medical or mental health provider shall not be overridden unless there is clear and convincing
21evidence to the contrary.