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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 398 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1929
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Francisco E. Paulino
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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 to expand juvenile court justice access.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Francisco E. Paulino16th Essex1/8/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 398 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1929
By Representative Paulino of Methuen, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1929) of
Francisco E. Paulino for legislation to increase the assignment, distribution and training of
justices in the juvenile court. The Judiciary.
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 to expand juvenile court justice access.
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. Amendment to Chapter 218 of the General Laws
2 Section 58 of Chapter 218 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by Chapter
3154 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the number of justices specified for
4each county and replacing it with the following revised totals. These adjustments increase the
5total number of justices in the Juvenile Court Department from 42 to 80, reflecting population
6growth and youth demographics in each county:
7 Suffolk County: 10 justices
8 Middlesex County: 10 justices
9 Worcester County: 8 justices
10 Franklin and Hampshire Counties: 3 justices 2 of 4
11 Bristol County: 6 justices
12 Essex County: 8 justices
13 Norfolk County: 5 justices
14 Plymouth County: 6 justices
15 Barnstable County and the Town of Plymouth: 3 justices
16 Berkshire and Hampden Counties: 5 justices
17 SECTION 2. Assignment and Distribution of Justices
18 The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department, in consultation with the Chief Justice
19of the Trial Court, shall develop a detailed plan for the assignment of the newly authorized
20justices to the respective divisions. This plan shall include, but not be limited to:
21 Caseload Analysis: An assessment of existing and projected caseloads to determine areas
22of highest need.
23 Demographic Considerations: An evaluation of county population trends, youth
24demographics, and socio-economic factors that impact the demand for juvenile justice services.
25 Equitable Allocation: Ensuring that resources are distributed equitably among counties to
26address disparities in access to justice.
27 Periodic Review: Establishing a system of periodic review and reallocation to adapt to
28changing needs and circumstances. 3 of 4
29 The Chief Justice shall submit a report detailing the assignment plan to the Joint
30Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means within
3190 days of the enactment of this legislation.
32 SECTION 3. Implementation and Training
33 To ensure the effective implementation of this act, the following steps shall be taken:
34 Judicial Appointments: The Governor, in consultation with the Judicial Nominating
35Commission, shall prioritize the appointment of qualified individuals to fill the newly created
36judicial positions.
37 Training and Orientation: Newly appointed justices shall undergo comprehensive training
38on juvenile justice, including trauma-informed practices, restorative justice approaches, and
39relevant statutory and case law.
40 Support Staff: Adequate funding shall be allocated to hire and train support staff,
41including clerks, probation officers, and court-appointed advocates, to assist the expanded
42judiciary.
43 Facilities Assessment: The Executive Office of the Trial Court shall conduct an
44assessment of court facilities to ensure that the physical infrastructure can accommodate the
45expanded judiciary and increased caseloads.
46 SECTION 4. Funding
47 The General Court shall appropriate the necessary funds to support the expansion of the
48Juvenile Court Department, including but not limited to judicial salaries, staff hiring, training 4 of 4
49programs, and infrastructure improvements. These funds shall be allocated in a manner that
50ensures timely implementation of this act.
51 SECTION 5. Effective Date
52 This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027, or upon passage, whichever occurs later. All
53preparatory measures, including judicial appointments and facility assessments, shall commence
54immediately upon passage to ensure full readiness by the effective date.
55 SECTION 6. Reporting and Accountability
56 The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department shall submit an annual report to the
57Joint Committee on the Judiciary detailing the impact of the expanded judiciary, including
58metrics on case resolution times, access to justice, and any identified areas for further
59improvement. The first report shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.