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Massachusetts Shared Parenting Legislation
Contact Information and Representatives Supporting Various Bills
Here is my quick take on the bills up before the Judiciary Committee this Tuesday. I put a question mark next to those bills whose effect I didn't know. Please let me know if I have made any mistakes here and fill me in on any of the question marks.
Here is the lowdown:
  • Shared parenting bills: 
    • H. 623, S. 841, S. 855, and S. 994 all look good. This is the top priority. Shared parenting is our Holy Grail.
    • H. 834 and H. 919 seem flawed and allow judges too much discretion, H. 1850 allows false accusations to rule.
    • H. 707 is evil and worse than what we've got now.
  • Restraining Orders
    • H. 608, H. 833 and H. 843 are good and help victims of false accusations.
    • H. 845 and H. 1799 make it all worse.
    • H. 852 is repulsive.
  • Custody, Visitation, Removal
    • H. 1737 and H. 1820 allow willing non-custodial parents to provide childcare to their children rather than paying an unrelated childcare worker.
  • Paternity
    • H. 748 and H. 841 provide relief from false paternity claims.
  • Child Support
    • H. 621, H. 624 and H. 1814 should help with egregious child support payments.
    • H. 1841 and S. 1042 worsen the collection process.
  • Other good legislation
    • H. 964 limits alimony.
    • S. 960 provides for review of divorce decisions.
    • S. 961 allows jury trials for divorces.
    • H. 960 provides timely decisions in divorce cases
  • Other bad legislation
    • H. 670 allows tort claims for abuse separate from any divorce proceedings (they can get you twice.)
    • H. 740 allows vacate orders for any reason whatsoever (never mind the constitution.)
Shared Custody

623 An Act RELATIVE TO SHARED CUSTODY. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00623.htm Yes

834 An Act RELATIVE TO RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00834.htm Yes(?)

919 An Act RELATIVE TO SHARED PARENTING http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00919.htm Yes(?)

S. 841 - Shared Parenting http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00841.htm Yes

S. 855 - Shared Parenting http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00855.htm Yes

S. 994 - Shared Parenting http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00994.htm Yes

1850 An Act RELATIVE TO THE CUSTODY OF CHILDREN http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01850.htm No

707 An Act RELATIVE TO COOPERATIVE PARENTING AND CHILD CUSTODY  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00707.htm No

Restraining Orders

608 An Act FURTHER REGULATING ABUSE PREVENTION, http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00608.htm Yes

663 An Act PROVIDING FOR RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR VICTIMS OF A CRIME AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00663.htm ?

771 An Act RELATIVE TO RESTRAINING ORDERS INVOLVING NON-FAMILY MEMBERS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00771.htm ?

820 An Act PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00820.htm ?(I think not)

833 An Act RELATIVE TO ABUSE PREVENTION. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00833.htm Yes

843 An Act FURTHER REGULATING PROTECTIVE ORDERS IN CERTAIN COURT PROCEEDINGS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00843.htm Yes

845 An Act RELATIVE TO EXTENDING CERTAIN RESTRAINING ORDERS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00845.htm No

852 An Act RELATIVE TO PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00852.htm No

952 An Act AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN RESTRAINING ORDERS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00952.htm ?(I think not)

991 An Act RELATIVE TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00991.htm ?(I think not)

1799 An Act TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01799.htm No

Custody, Visitation, Removal

637 An Act TO REQUIRE THAT JUDGES CERTIFY IN WRITING, THAT ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN CHILD CUSTODY CASES ARE IN COMPLIANCE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00637.htm ? (I think not)

1737 An Act TO ENHANCE THE AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF CHILD CARE.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01737.htm Yes

1820 An Act RELATIVE TO INCREASING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT WITH CHILDCARE.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01820.htm Yes

1738 An Act CLARIFYING THE REMOVAL STATUTE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01738.htm ?(I think yes)

1766 An Act CLARIFYING THE REMOVAL STATUTE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01766.htm ?(I think yes)

Paternity

748 An Act RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING PATERNITY. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00748.htm Yes

790 An Act Relative to Paternity Actions in the Juvenile Court. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00790.htm ?

841 An Act RESTORING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS ORDERED TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT NON-BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00841.htm Yes

1781 An Act Relative to DNA Requirements for Adoption. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01781.htm ?

1851 An Act RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT OF MINOR CHILDREN http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01851.htm ?(I think not)

S. 914 - Paternity Actions http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00914.htm ?

S. 1015 - Determination of Paternity http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st01/st01015.htm ?

Child Support

621 An Act RELATIVE TO CHILD SUPPORT http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00621.htm Yes

624 An Act RELATIVE TO CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00624.htm Yes

1814 An Act RELATIVE TO CHILD SUPPORT. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01814.htm Yes

1841 An Act RELATIVE TO CHILD SUPPORT. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01841.htm No

S. 1042 - IMPROVING THE CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTION PROCESS http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st01/st01042.htm No

GALs, Parenting Coordinators

754 An Act RELATIVE TO INVESTIGATIONS PERFORMED BY GUARDIAN AD LITEMS AT THE REQUEST OF THE PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00754.htm ?

755 An Act RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN AD LITEM TO INSTITUTE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE CARE, CUSTODY OR MAINTENANCE OF MINOR CHILDREN.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00755.htm ?(I think not)

756 An Act RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN AD LITEM TO INVESTIGATE THE FACTS OF ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING THE CARE, CUSTODY OR MAINTENANCE OF MINOR CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS MATTERS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00756.htm ?

S. 910 - G.A.L. / Contempt http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00910.htm ?(I think not)

S. 911 - G.A.L. / Investigate http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00911.htm ?

S. 952 - APPOINTMENT OF PARENTING COORDINATORS IN THE PROBATE COURTS  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00952.htm ?

Other - Good

964 An Act FURTHER REGULATING ALIMONY PAYMENTS http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00964.htm Yes

S. 960 - REVIEW OF DIVORCE ORDERS http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00960.htm Yes

S. 961 - DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS - JURY TRIAL http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00961.htm Yes

848 An Act RELATIVE TO PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00848.htm ?(I think yes)

965 An Act relative to judgments of divorce http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00965.htm ?(I think yes)

1778 An Act RELATIVE TO THE SHARED CUSTODY PLANS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01778.htm ?(I think yes)

Other - Bad

670 An Act RELATIVE TO SPOUSAL CLAIMS FOR TORTUOUS CONDUCT.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00670.htm No

740 An Act RELATIVE TO CIVIL VACATE ORDERS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00740.htm No

747 An Act RELATIVE TO CONTEMPT JUDGMENTS. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00747.htm ?(I think not)

920 An Act PROHIBITING COURT ORDERED VISITATION RIGHTS TO PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES AGAINST A MINOR http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00920.htm ?(I think not)

Other - Unknown

729 An Act TO PROMOTE THE PERMANENT PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH FIT PARENTS.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00729.htm ?

741 An Act RELATIVE TO THE ANTENUPTIAL STATUTE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00741.htm ?

759 An Act AN ACT RELATING TO EQUITABLE DIVORCE PROCEDURES.  http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00759.htm ?

S. 827 - Domestic Relations http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00827.htm ?

S. 920 - Equitable Divorce http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00920.htm ?

801 An Act RELATIVE TO THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00/ht00801.htm ?(Huge rewriting of laws)

S. 866 - UPC http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00866.htm ?(Huge rewriting of laws)

S. 872 - Uniform Child-Custody http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00872.htm ?(Huge rewriting of laws)

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