WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 6130

A communication from the State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (see Section 18N of Chapter 6A of the General Laws) submitting its annual report for calendar year 2025

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill presents the 2025 annual DV Fatality Review findings and recommends actions: create a rapid-response crisis team, expand multidisciplinary membership, educate survivors on

Placed on file
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 6130

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Bill: HD 6130 (Session 194th)
  • Title: A communication from the State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team submitting its annual report for calendar year 2025
  • Purpose: To present and implement the State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team’s 2025 annual report and to outline recommended actions, updates to membership, data practices, and funding to strengthen domestic violence fatality reviews and prevention efforts.

Main purpose and intent

  • Provide a detailed annual assessment of domestic violence fatalities in Massachusetts for 2025.
  • Identify system gaps and actionable recommendations to prevent future fatalities.
  • Propose statutory and funding-related changes to enhance the effectiveness of the statewide and local fatality review process.
  • Highlight data practices, confidentiality protections, and interagency collaboration necessary to conduct thorough reviews.

Key provisions and changes

  • Annual Report and Recommendations

    • The bill communicates the 2025 annual report, including findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.
    • Recommendations cover crisis response integration, membership expansion, survivor education on judicial privilege, and funding increases.

  • R1: Crisis Response Team Integration

    • Pilot a Domestic Violence Crisis Emergency Response Team (DVCERT) to work with High-Risk Teams (HRTs) for case-by-case management of complex high-risk cases.
    • Advocates on a DVCERT should operate as an independent service provider from the prosecution team, with partitioned files and limited high-level communications to protect integrity and safety.

  • R2: Fatality Review Team Membership Expansion

    • Amend statutes to broaden and formalize State Team membership for multidisciplinary expertise and legislative accountability.
    • Suggested additions include:
    • Executive Office of Health and Human Services agencies: Department of Public Health (DPH, including SANE and IPA Education Programs), Department of Mental Health (DMH), Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS)
    • Department of Children and Families (DCF, including Domestic Violence Unit)
    • Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA, including Domestic Violence Unit)
    • Massachusetts Parole Board (Victim Services Unit)
    • Public safety and judiciary representatives: Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and judiciary stakeholders
    • Goal: strengthen cross-agency perspectives and decision-making.

  • R3: Survivor Education on Judicial Privilege

    • Ensure survivors receive education on all rights, including the option to assert privilege, to support informed decision-making and understanding consequences (e.g., marital privilege).

  • R4: Increased and Stable Funding

    • Note: FY26 General Appropriations Act cut $7 million from DPH Line 4513-1136, risking domestic and sexual violence programs (shelter beds, prevention, direct services).
    • Healey-Driscoll Administration announced restoration of cuts to direct services in Dec 2025.
    • Recommendation: Legislature should provide stable and adequate funding, including increases to annual appropriations for Sexual and Domestic Violence programs to meet demonstrated needs.

  • Looking Forward: 2026

    • Emphasis on addressing membership and record-sharing limitations.
    • Specific issues:
    • Membership limitations under MGL Chapter 6A, Section 18N constrain participation and information gathering.
    • Record-sharing limitations with state agencies (e.g., DTA, DCF) and others hinder reviews.
    • Proposals to amend 18N to improve participation and data access, as previously recommended (2017, 2023, 2024).

Who is affected

  • State and Local Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams:
    • State Team (leadership, governance, and policy recommendations).
    • Local Review Teams (DA-chaired, multi-disciplinary members).
  • Agencies and professionals:
    • Law enforcement, prosecutors, medical examiners, probation, victim services, shelters, social services, health and mental health agencies, DCF, DTA, DPH, BSAS, DMH, Parole Board, and police associations.
  • Survivors and victims’ families:
    • Indirectly affected through improved rights education, confidentiality protections, and more effective prevention and safety planning.
  • Public safety and judiciary:
    • Potentially affected by expanded membership and data-sharing provisions, and by the incorporation of survivor rights education into proceedings.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Reporting timeline:
    • The State Team must produce an annual written report to the Governor and Legislature, detailing findings and recommendations (as per current law and the 2025 report).
  • Review process:
    • Local Teams review fatalities assigned by the State Team, operate under confidentiality, and produce case-level insights to inform state recommendations.
    • Reviews occur with a no-blame, no-shame philosophy to identify systemic failures and improvements.
  • Data and confidentiality:
    • Strict confidentiality rules govern data and records; information is not public, with de-identified data permitted for public reporting.
    • Law prohibits certain disclosures, but allows necessary sharing for team purposes, subject to protective procedures.
  • Membership and legislative action:
    • The bill signals intended statutory changes to 18N for broader membership and enhanced access to information, with implementation anticipated in 2026 focus areas.

Summary

HD 6130 presents the Massachusetts State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team’s 2025 annual report and outlines concrete recommendations to improve prevention and response to domestic violence fatalities. Key proposals include integrating a rapid-response crisis team (DVCERT), expanding the State Team’s multidisciplinary membership, educating survivors about judicial privileges, and ensuring stable, increased funding for related programs. It also identifies ongoing 2026 work to address membership and record-sharing barriers within the legal framework.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.