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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 773 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1378
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
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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 employee leave of absence to appear in probate and family court.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 773 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1378
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1378) of John C. Velis for legislation
relative to employee leave of absence to appear in probate and family court. Labor and
Workforce Development.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1231 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 relative to employee leave of absence to appear in probate and family court.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 149 of the General laws is hereby amended by adding after section 52E the
2following section:-
3 Section 52F. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the
4contrary, an employee is entitled to take unpaid leave when necessary to appear in the Probate
5and Family Court, on all matters pertaining to their rights and duties as a parent or legal
6guardian, including but not limited to, divorce, paternity, actions arising out of chapter 209c for
7custody-support-parenting time, and modifications or enforcement of all such actions.
8 (b) An employee may elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute any
9of the accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave of the employee for 2 of 2
10any of the leave provided under this section, but nothing in this section shall require an employer
11to provide paid sick leave or paid medical leave in any situation in which the employer would
12not normally provide any such paid leave. Leave under this section may be taken intermittently
13or on a reduced leave schedule.
14 (c) If the necessity for leave under this section is foreseeable, the employee shall provide
15the employer with not less than seven days of notice before the date the leave is to begin. If the
16necessity for leave is not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.
17 (d) An employer may require that a request for leave under this section be supported by a
18certification issued at such time and in such manner as the attorney general may by regulation
19require.
20 (e) The attorney general shall enforce this section, and may obtain injunctive or
21declaratory relief for this purpose. Violation of this section shall be subject to the second
22paragraph of section 150 and to section 180.