Bill > H4065

This bill introduces protections for domestic violence survivors in child welfare and court proceedings by establishing a rebuttable presumption that certain actions or inactions related to domestic violence should not be considered child neglect. Specifically, the bill clarifies that a parent who is a victim of domestic violence cannot be deemed neglectful for: (1) failing to prevent a child from witnessing domestic violence, (2) not leaving the home where an alleged abuser resides, (3) not ending the relationship with the alleged perpetrator, (4) not reporting the violence to law enforcement or child welfare authorities, or (5) not seeking a protective order. The bill expands the definition of domestic violence to include "coercive control" and requires that department employees receive mandatory training on domestic violence issues. These provisions aim to protect domestic violence survivors from being penalized in child welfare and court proceedings for actions that are often the result of complex and dangerous situations, recognizing that victims should not be further victimized by the legal system for their responses to abuse.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4065