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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2999 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 273
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Samantha Montaño
_________________
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 a maltreatment coding system.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2999 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 273
By Representative Montaño of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 273) of
Samantha Montaño relative to the creation of a maltreatment coding system. Children, Families
and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to a maltreatment coding system.
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 51B of Chapter 119 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the
22022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following
3paragraphs:-
4 (1) The department shall create and utilize a comprehensive maltreatment coding system
5that provides a standardized method for categorizing instances of abuse and neglect by severity
6for families during the initial investigation phase.
7 (2) Categories should include, but are not limited to: (i) parental abuse; (ii) imminent risk
8of serious harm (iii) labor trafficking; (iv) emotional abuse; (v) neglect; (vi) physical abuse; (vii)
9sexual abuse; (viii) exploitation
10 (3) The coding system should further include coding based on abuse related to sexual
11orientation, gender identity, and expression in an effort to provide family preservation and 2 of 2
12acceptance education; as well as racial discrimination for youth who are not in the care of their
13family of origin.
14 (4) The coding system should be applied upon opening a case and used in conjunction
15with existing software to assist in the assessment and continued evaluation of ongoing cases.
16 (5) The department shall review the categories of the system at least every two years and
17update as needed.