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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3101 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 236
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 relative to training of mandated reporters.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol1/16/2025John R. Gaskey2nd Plymouth1/28/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3101 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 236
By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 236) of
Carole A. Fiola and John R. Gaskey relative to mandated reporting of child neglect. Children,
Families and Persons with Disabilities.
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 relative to training of mandated reporters.
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 51A of Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2striking out subsection (k) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
3 (k) A mandated reporter who is professionally licensed by the commonwealth shall
4complete training at least every two years to recognize and report suspected child abuse or
5neglect. The training shall have a curriculum that has been approved by the Office of the Child
6Advocate.
7 SECTION 2: Section 5 of Chapter 18C of the General Laws is hereby amended by
8adding the following subsection:-
9 (i) The child advocate shall be responsible for approving curricula for mandated reporter
10trainings in accordance with M.G.L. c. 119 ยง 51A(k). Such curricula shall include, but not be
11limited to, recognition of the signs of child neglect or abuse and related reporting requirements,
12bias and cultural considerations in reporting, information on how to address concerns with 2 of 2
13families and children when those concerns do not rise to the level of requiring a maltreatment
14report, information about connecting families with needed supports and resources and how to
15understand what qualifies as neglect.