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H4065

194th

An Act relative to supporting survivors of domestic violence and enhancing child welfare

StatusActive Amendments0 SponsorDavid Henry Argosky LeBoeuf CommitteeNot yet assigned

malegislature.gov ↗ · Download PDF · View Text on malegislature.gov

By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4065) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to survivors of domestic violence and enhancing child welfare. The Judiciary.

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Date	Branch	Action
3/26/2026	House	3/26/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5281 ↗ (under House Rule 27)
—	House	— HouseReported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
10/20/2025	Joint	10/20/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
6/11/2025	Joint	6/11/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
5/5/2025	Senate	5/5/2025 SenateSenate concurred
5/1/2025	House	5/1/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on The Judiciary

Cosponsor
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf Primary sponsor
Natalie M. Higgins
Patrick Joseph Kearney

Committee	Recommendation	Vote
J19	Accompanied	—

Bill	Title	Status
S145	An Act relative to supporting survivors of domestic violence and enhancing child welfare	Active

4 section(s) · formatted for easier reading

▸SECTION 1

Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 29D the following section:-

▸SECTION 29E

In court proceedings related to the removal of a child from their home for neglect, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that neglect does not include a failure of a victim of domestic violence to: (i) prevent a child from witnessing the domestic violence; (ii) leave the home in which the alleged perpetrator resides; (iii) end a relationship with the alleged perpetrator; (iv) report the domestic violence to law enforcement or the department; or (v) seek an order of protection against the alleged perpetrator. For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence” shall include coercive control, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A.

▸SECTION 2

Said chapter 119 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 37 the following section:-

▸SECTION 37A

(a) There shall be a rebuttable presumption in all department proceedings that neglect of a child does not include a failure of a victim of domestic violence to: (i) prevent a child from witnessing the domestic violence; (ii) leave the home in which the alleged perpetrator resides; (iii) end a relationship with the alleged perpetrator; (iv) report the domestic violence to law enforcement or the department; or (v) seek an order of protection against the alleged perpetrator. For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence” shall include coercive control, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A.
	(b) All employees of the department shall have mandatory training on issues related to domestic violence.

Show raw text

	SECTION 1. Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 29D the following section:-
	Section 29E. In court proceedings related to the removal of a child from their home for neglect, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that neglect does not include a failure of a victim of domestic violence to: (i) prevent a child from witnessing the domestic violence; (ii) leave the home in which the alleged perpetrator resides; (iii) end a relationship with the alleged perpetrator; (iv) report the domestic violence to law enforcement or the department; or (v) seek an order of protection against the alleged perpetrator. For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence” shall include coercive control, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A.
	SECTION 2. Said chapter 119 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 37 the following section:-
	Section 37A. (a) There shall be a rebuttable presumption in all department proceedings that neglect of a child does not include a failure of a victim of domestic violence to: (i) prevent a child from witnessing the domestic violence; (ii) leave the home in which the alleged perpetrator resides; (iii) end a relationship with the alleged perpetrator; (iv) report the domestic violence to law enforcement or the department; or (v) seek an order of protection against the alleged perpetrator. For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence” shall include coercive control, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A.
	(b) All employees of the department shall have mandatory training on issues related to domestic violence.