H3882 • 2025

An Act relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect

Children

Active

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

Sponsor: Danillo A. Sena
Last action: 2026-06-01
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5466 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text does not provide specific details about the implementation timeline or procedural steps for sharing information.

An Act relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect

This act updates laws about reporting domestic violence and child abuse to include military families by requiring state agencies to share information with local military authorities.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new paragraph (s) to Section 51B of Chapter 119 in the General Laws, stating that if there is an allegation of domestic or child abuse, the department must determine if the person involved is in the military and share this information with local military authorities.
Modifies Section 51D by adding a new paragraph to establish a memorandum of understanding between state agencies and the military family advocacy program. This agreement will set rules for sharing information about abuse cases involving military personnel.

Who It Names or Affects

Military families who experience domestic violence or child abuse
State agencies responsible for investigating and reporting cases of abuse or neglect
Local military authorities and the military family advocacy program

Terms To Know

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): A written agreement between two parties that outlines how they will work together on a specific issue.
Military Family Advocacy Program: A program established by the U.S. Department of Defense to help military families dealing with child abuse and neglect issues.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how information will be shared or what happens if a report involves someone who is in the military.
It's unclear when this act would take effect since it has been referred to committees for further study.

Bill History

2026-06-01 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5466 (under House Rule 27)
2025-06-17 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2025-06-12 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in 437
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred
House
Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect
By Representative Sena of Acton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3882) of Danillo A. Sena relative to the military family advocacy program, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.3882

Section 1. Section 51B of Chapter 119 of the Generals Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph (s) to read as follows:

“(s) If a report is accepted as a credible allegation of domestic abuse or child abuse or neglect as defined by the department of children and families, the department shall collect information concerning the military status of the spouse, intimate partner, parent or guardian of the child who is the subject of the report and shall share information about the allegation with the appropriate military authorities in accordance with the memorandum of understanding described in section 51D.”

Section 2. Section 51D of Chapter 119, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph immediately following the paragraph beginning with “Each area director shall file a monthly report”:

“Each area director shall, on behalf of the department, enter into a memorandum of understanding with the military family advocacy program at a local military installation with respect to child abuse and neglect investigations. For the purposes of this section, "military family advocacy program" shall mean the program established by the United States Department of Defense to address child abuse and neglect in military families. Such memorandum of understanding shall establish procedures and protocols for matters including, but not limited to, (i) identifying an individual credibly alleged to have committed abuse or neglect as military personnel; (ii) identifying appropriate circumstances for reporting to the military family advocacy program without reducing likelihood of reporting or creating undue risk to the health or wellbeing of the spouse, intimate partner, or child; (iii) reporting to a military family advocacy program when an investigation implicating military personnel has been initiated; and (iv) maintaining confidentiality requirements under state and federal law.”

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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