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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1249 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 571
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carole A. Fiola
_________________
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 providing for alternatives to fines for failure to send.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol1/14/2025Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk1/23/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/23/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1249 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 571
By Representative Fiola of Fall River, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 571) of
Carole A. Fiola, Paul McMurtry and Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to providing for alternative
penalties for failure to send children to school. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 476 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act providing for alternatives to fines for failure to send.
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 2 of chapter 76 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2paragraph:-
3 Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the court
4may, as an alternative to the fine provided herein, order a person in control of a child and the
5child described in section 1, who fails to attend school under this section, to attend a counseling
6program or other appropriate program or services, as determined by the court. If the court finds
7that the child, and a person in control of such child, have successfully completed the court
8ordered programs or services the court shall dismiss the charge under this section against the
9defendant. Charges under this section shall be assigned to an expedited docket for disposition.