Bill > H781

This bill aims to address visitation rights in domestic violence cases. It prohibits defendants charged or convicted of certain violent offenses, where the victim is pregnant or the defendant and victim have a child in common, from obtaining visitation with the resulting child or any child who was a victim or witness to the crime. The court can issue this visitation ban during the pretrial period and after conviction, for up to one year or the completion of the defendant's sentence, whichever is shorter. The victim or the child can request a waiver of the ban, and a guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent the child's interests if the mother and child disagree. The bill also requires the defendant to complete various evaluations and programs before being allowed visitation through the probate court if the ban is lifted.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H781