There is a newer version
of
this Chapter
2017 Massachusetts General Laws
PART I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
TITLE XVII PUBLIC WELFARE
Chapter 119 PROTECTION AND CARE OF CHILDREN, AND PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THEM
- Section 1 Declaration of policy; purpose
- Section 2 to 20 Repealed, 1972, 785, Sec. 6
- Section 21 Definitions applicable to Secs. 21 to 51H
- Section 21A Admissibility of evidence; qualified experts
- Section 22 Visitation of family foster homes; removal of child; discharge of child to parent or legal guardian
- Section 23 Responsibility of department to provide foster care for children; placement with relatives; funeral expenses; child profile form; extension of support of child until 22 years of age; assignment of support rights; assistance to foster care families
- Section 23A Children born to inmates of correctional institutions or jails; care and custody
- Section 23B Services to unwed mothers
- Section 24 Procedure to commit child to custody or other disposition; notice and summons; emergency order transferring custody; investigation; abandoned children
- Section 25 Hearing; custody of child
- Section 26 Procedure at hearing; order of commitment; petition to dispense with parental consent to adoption; reimbursement of commonwealth; petition for review
- Section 26A Registration of interest for foster care placement; criminal record review; fingerprint-based checks; grounds for rejection
- Section 26B Grandparent visitation; sibling visitation; appeal of decision to deny visitation
- Section 26C Summary of foster care providers' employment
- Section 27 Appeals; procedure; notice of right of appeal; time limits
- Section 28 Orders for payment of support; who may bring action; expiration of order or judgment
- Section 29 Right to counsel; notice of right; court appointed counsel
- Section 29A Legal fees of minors in criminal proceedings; liability of parents
- Section 29B Determination of future status of committed children; orders; permanency hearings; appeals
- Section 29C Judicial certification of need to remove child from home
- Section 29D Notice of hearing
- Section 30, 31 Repealed, 1961, 396, Sec. 5
- Section 32 Placement of children in private families; early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment standards; individualized health care plan
- Section 33 Placement of children in family home care
- Section 33A [There is no 119:33A.]
- Section 33B Placement in family home care of juvenile who has or may have committed a sexual offense or arson
- Section 34 Transportation of children in patrol wagons
- Section 35 Furnishing parent or guardian information as to child; permission to visit; notice; parents convicted of first degree murder
- Section 36 Bringing child into commonwealth with view to adoption, guardianship, custody or care; permit; application; bond
- Section 37 Rules and regulations of department
- Section 38 Closed hearings; publication of names
- Section 38A Petitions for order to not resuscitate or to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment; required recommendations; appeals
- Section 39 Abandonment of infant under age of ten
- Section 391/2 Placement of a newborn into foster care
- Section 39A to 39C Repealed, 1973, 1076, Sec. 6
- Section 39D Visitation rights to certain grandparents of unmarried minor children; place to file petition
- Section 39E Petitions seeking determination that child is in need of services; jurisdiction; standing
- Section 39F Right to counsel; determination of indigency; assessment of costs
- Section 39G Hearing; determination of child requiring assistance
- Section 39H Custodial protection of child; notification and placement; bail; detention; right of appeal
- Section 39I Appeal; rights and procedures
- Section 39J Repealed, 2012, 240, Sec. 32
- Section 39K Child welfare service needs of sexually exploited children
- Section 39L Children in violation of prohibition against common night walking or common streetwalking; petition for care and protection; appointment of guardian ad litem; stay of juvenile delinquency or criminal proceedings; failure of child to comply with requirements
- Section 40 to 51 Repealed, 1954, 646, Sec. 1
- Section 51A Reporting of suspected abuse or neglect; mandated reporters; collection of physical evidence; penalties; content of reports; liability; privileged communication
- Section 51B Investigation of report of abuse filed under Sec. 51A; removal of child; transmission and filing of written reports; notice to district attorney; disclosure of information by mandated reporter
- Section 51C Custody of injured child pending transfer to department or pending hearing
- Section 51D Powers and duties of area directors; multi-disciplinary service teams
- Section 51E Reports of injured children; files; confidentiality; penalties
- Section 51F Central registry of information; confidentiality; penalties
- Section 51G Severability of Secs. 51A to 51F
- Section 51H Protective alerts; transport of child to another state or country
- Section 52 Definitions
- Section 53 Liberal construction; nature of proceedings
- Section 54 Complaint; indictment; examination of complainant; summons; warrant
- Section 55 Summoning of parent or guardian
- Section 55A Jury trials; discovery orders; jury-waived trials; appointment of stenographer
- Section 55B Plea; disposition request; pretrial motions
- Section 56 Adjournments; jury sessions; appointment of stenographer
- Section 57 Investigation by probation officer; record of performance; reports
- Section 58 Adjudication as delinquent child or youthful offender
- Section 58A Repealed, 1948, 310, Sec. 5
- Section 58B Motor vehicle violations; disposition; admissibility of adjudication and disposition as evidence in other proceedings
- Section 59 Violation of terms of probation
- Section 60 Admissibility of adjudication in subsequent proceeding; disqualification for public service
- Section 60A Inspection of records in youthful offender and delinquency cases
- Section 61 Repealed, 1996, 200, Sec. 7
- Section 62 Restitution or reparation by child to injured person
- Section 63 Inducing or abetting delinquency of child
- Section 63A Aiding and abetting violation of juvenile court order; concealing or harboring child; penalties; defenses
- Section 64 Powers of commissioner of probation; annual report
- Section 65 Juvenile sessions; presence of minors; exclusion of public
- Section 66 Detention of child in police station; commitment to jail, house of correction or state farm
- Section 67 Notice of arrest of child to probation officer and parent or guardian; detention
- Section 68 Commitment of children held for examination or trial
- Section 68A Diagnostic study by department of youth services; report and recommendations
- Section 68B Special foster homes; detention homes; alternate placements of child
- Section 68C Diagnostic services by department of youth services
- Section 69 Information and reports of superintendents of schools and teachers
- Section 69A Information of probation officers, police and school authorities
- Section 70 Summoning of parent or guardian during case
- Section 71 Failure to appear on summons; capias
- Section 72 Continuance of jurisdiction of courts in juvenile sessions
- Section 72A Proceedings upon apprehension after nineteenth birthday
- Section 72B Persons between the ages of fourteen and eighteen convicted of murder; penalties
- Section 73 Repealed, 1964, 308, Sec. 5
- Section 74 Limitations on criminal proceedings against children
- Section 75 Repealed, 1975, 840, Sec. 2A
- Section 76 to 82 Repealed, 1964, 308, Sec. 5
- Section 83 Repealed, 1996, 200, Sec. 16
- Section 84 Warrant of commitment to department of youth services
- Section 85 Department employees reporting animal cruelty, abuse or neglect; immunity from liability
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.