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S 146

An Act relative to a maltreatment coding system

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Robyn Kennedy

Massachusetts would require DCF to adopt a standardized maltreatment coding system at the start of investigations to classify abuse and neglect types and severity.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · S 146

Summary — S.146 (Massachusetts): "An Act relative to a maltreatment coding system"

Note on duplicate numbering: Materials provided include two different bills labeled S.146 — (1) a Massachusetts state bill introduced by Senator Robyn K. Kennedy to create a maltreatment coding system, and (2) a separate federal S.146 (the TAKE IT DOWN Act) concerning nonconsensual intimate visual depictions. The summary below focuses on the Massachusetts bill titled “An Act relative to a maltreatment coding system” (Senate Docket No. 1738), as indicated in the Bill Text and Bill Information.

Purpose / Intent

To require the Department (Department of Children and Families) to create and use a standardized maltreatment coding system that categorizes types and severity of child abuse and neglect at the outset of a child-abuse investigation. The goal is to standardize classification to assist assessment, case management, and targeted family-preservation or intervention services.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 51B of Chapter 119 by inserting new paragraphs immediately after subsection (a).
  • Requires the Department to create and utilize a comprehensive maltreatment coding system for initial investigations.
  • Prescribed categories (non‑exhaustive):
    • parental abuse; imminent risk of serious harm; labor trafficking; emotional abuse; neglect; physical abuse; sexual abuse; exploitation.
  • Requires additional coding for abuse related to:
    • sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (to support family preservation and acceptance education); and
    • racial discrimination encountered by youth not in care of their family of origin.
  • Operational requirements:
    • Apply the coding system upon opening a case.
    • Integrate and use the system in conjunction with existing case‑management software to aid assessment and ongoing evaluation.
  • Maintenance: The Department must review the category set at least once every two years and update as needed.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) staff and systems; child-abuse investigators and caseworkers.
  • Secondary: Children and families subject to 51B investigations, service providers, and agencies that receive or rely on DCF classification data.
  • Administrative/IT: State IT and records systems that will need to incorporate the new coding schema.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate: January 16, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 1738).
  • Committee referral: Referred to committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (noted 02/27/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: July 8, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, Room A‑1 (per Bill Information).
  • Sponsor / petitioner: Senator Robyn K. Kennedy (First Worcester).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Benefits: More consistent classification across cases; improved data for policy, resource allocation, training needs, and targeted interventions (including supports addressing LGBTQ+ and race‑based maltreatment). May improve early risk triage and family preservation planning.
  • Implementation needs: Upfront costs for developing the taxonomy, IT integration with existing case management systems, staff training, and ongoing governance for biennial reviews and updates.
  • Risks/challenges: Potential for misclassification if categories/definitions are ambiguous; privacy and data‑sharing safeguards will be needed when integrating sensitive demographic and identity‑based codes; ensuring culturally competent application of categories.

If you’d like, I can:
- Draft suggested category definitions and coding schema for review; or
- Outline an implementation plan (IT, training, privacy steps) for DCF.

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

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