MA H1788

Bill

Regarding the appointment of court investigators and the admissibility of certain reports in care and protection cases

Introduced
03/29/2021

In Committee
03/29/2021

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to the appointment of court investigators and the admissibility of certain reports in care and protection cases. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to modify the rules around the appointment of court investigators and the admissibility of certain reports in care and protection cases. Specifically, it allows the court to appoint a neutral investigator to investigate facts related to a child's welfare, and the investigator's report would be admissible as evidence if offered by a party or the court. The bill also removes a provision that allowed reports written by parties or their experts to be admissible in such proceedings, unless otherwise required by law. Additionally, it allows testimony from foster or pre-adoptive parents who have cared for a child for at least 6 months, as well as testimony from the child if the court deems the child competent and willing to testify.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Joan Meschino (D)*,

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4844 (on 06/09/2022)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1788

(14 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1788
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1788.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1074	Relative to children's auditory health	Accompanied a study order, see H4975	Similar To
H1737	Protecting children	Accompanied a study order, see H4844	Similar To
H226	Relative to early intervention services for children with prenatal exposure to opioids	No further action taken	Similar To
H232	Relative to foster care recruitment	No further action taken	Similar To
H2639	To provide pensions to surviving spouses of Department of Children and Families social workers killed in the line of duty	Accompanied a study order, see H4960	Similar To
H4011	Relative to eligibility for emergency assistance to elderly, disabled residents and children	Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2021	Similar To
H4844	Study Order	Discharged to the committee on House Rules	Replaced by
S103	Creating an electronic backpack for foster children	Accompanied a study order, see S2912	Similar To
S1107	Relative to the safety of courthouses and remote court proceedings	Accompanied a study order, see S2665	Similar To
S2496	To improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S2516	Mitigating COVID-19 transmission among children and families	Accompanied a study order, see S2756	Similar To
S927	Relative to benefits for court officers	Accompanied a study order, see S2665	Similar To
S98	Establishing a program to promote infant sleep safety	Accompanied a study order, see S2624	Similar To
S99	Relative to foster kids	Accompanied a study order, see S2624	Similar To

Bill > H1788

MA H1788

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary