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H1714 • 2025

An Act increasing parental involvement with childcare

An Act increasing parental involvement with childcare

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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 increasing parental involvement with childcare

An Act increasing parental involvement with childcare By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act increasing parental involvement with childcare By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1714) of Colleen M.
  • Garry relative to the involvement of non-custodial parents in child care.
  • 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. 2025-10-14 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-04-18 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 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 increasing parental involvement with childcare
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1714) of Colleen M. Garry relative to the involvement of non-custodial parents in child care. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1714

SECTION 1.

Section 28 of Chapter 208 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:— When the court makes an order or judgment for maintenance or support of a child or children hereunder, the court shall determine whether childcare services are deemed necessary by the custodial parent and whether the non-custodial parent is available and capable of providing all or part of said childcare. If the court determines that the non-custodial parent is available, capable, and desirous of providing all or part of said childcare for the child or children for whom support is ordered, the court shall include in its order provisions allowing the non-custodial parent the right to provide such child care. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorize entry by the non-custodial parent into the home of the custodial parent for the purposes of childcare. A change in the availability of the non-custodial parent to provide childcare shall constitute a material and substantial change in circumstances for purposes of modification of existing judgments.

SECTION 2. Section 9 of Chapter 209C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of subsection (a) the following:— When the court makes an order or judgment for maintenance or support of a child or children, said court shall determine whether day care services are deemed necessary by the custodial parent and whether the non-custodial parent is available, capable, and desirous of providing all or part of said child care. When the court has determined that the non-custodial parent is available, capable, and desirous of providing child care for the child or children for whom support is ordered, the court shall include in its orders provisions allowing the non-custodial parent the right to provide said child care. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorize entry by the non-custodial parent into the home of the custodial parent for the purposes of childcare. A change in the availability of the non-custodial parent to provide childcare shall constitute a material and substantial change in circumstances for purposes of modification of existing judgments. Ch. 208, sec. 28 refers to support orders as part of divorce. Ch. 209C, see 9 refers to support orders for children born out of wedlock.

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