KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H1713 • 2025

An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense

An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense

Children
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Colleen M. Garry
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense

An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1713) of Colleen M.
  • Garry relative to victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense.
  • The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-20 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-06-11 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act to protect victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1713) of Colleen M. Garry relative to victims of rape and children conceived during the commission of said offense. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.1713

SECTION 1. Chapter 209 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 39. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 38, a married woman may file a petition with the court to terminate her husband’s parental rights pursuant to this section. Grounds for the termination of parental rights shall be established if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that a child of the marriage was conceived as a result of an act of rape made unlawful pursuant to sections 22 or 22A of chapter 265, or pursuant to a similar law of another state, territory, possession, or Native American tribe where the offense occurred. It is presumed that termination of parental rights is in the best interest of the child if the child was conceived as a result of the unlawful sexual battery. A petition for termination of parental rights under this paragraph may be filed at any time. The court shall accept a guilty plea or conviction of unlawful sexual battery pursuant to said sections 22 or 22A of chapter 265 as conclusive proof that the child was conceived by a violation of criminal law as set forth in this section.

SECTION 2. Chapter 209C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following subsection:-

Section 1A. Notwithstanding section 10, the mother of a child who was born as a result of an act of rape as set forth in this section may file a petition with the court to terminate the perpetrator’s parental rights. Grounds for the termination of parental rights shall be established if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the child was conceived as a result of an act of rape made unlawful pursuant to sections 22 or 22A of chapter 265, or pursuant to a similar law of another state, territory, possession, or Native American tribe where the offense occurred. It is presumed that termination of parental rights is in the best interest of the child if the child was conceived as a result of the unlawful sexual battery. A petition for termination of parental rights under this paragraph may be filed at any time. The court shall accept a guilty plea or conviction of unlawful sexual battery pursuant to said sections 22 or 22A of chapter 265 as conclusive proof that the child was conceived by a violation of criminal law as set forth in this section.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close