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SD 2647

An Act to ensure information management integrity by the office of the child advocate

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bruce Tarr

Requires the Office of the Child Advocate to publish written reasons when withholding any report or part, ensuring public access while protecting ongoing investigations.

Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
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Bill Summary · SD 2647

Summary of Senate Bill SD 2647: An Act to ensure information management integrity by the office of the child advocate

Overview

  • Bill number: SD 2647
  • Title: An Act to ensure information management integrity by the office of the child advocate
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Current status: Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; previously referred to Rules of the two branches (concurrent) on February 27, 2025. Rules suspended and then referred to the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities committee on March 31, 2025.
  • Classification: Proposed bill in the Massachusetts General Court

Purpose and intent

The bill adds an information-transparency requirement to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) by modifying Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 18C, Section 12. Its core aim is to ensure that when the OCA withholds a report or parts of a report, the reasons for withholding are documented and made publicly available, while preserving protections for ongoing investigations and protective measures.

Key provisions

  • Legislative change: Inserts new subsection (f) at the end of Chapter 18C, Sec. 12.
  • Withholding explanations: If the child advocate or the OCA elects to withhold a report or components of a report, the OCA must provide the requesting party with written reasons for withholding.
  • Public access: The written reasons must be recorded and made available for public inspection.
  • Protective carve-out: Nothing in the new provision requires actions that would compromise any investigation or protective measures that could be or are being undertaken by the OCA or the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
  • Scope: Applies to requests for reports or report components handled by the OCA.

Who is affected

  • Office of the Child Advocate (OCA)
  • Department of Children and Families (DCF), to the extent that investigations or protective measures are involved
  • Individuals or entities that request information or reports from the OCA (the provision refers to “any requesting party”)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Initial referral: Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently (February 27, 2025)
  • Subsequent action: Rules suspended and referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (March 31, 2025)
  • Next potential steps: Upon committee approval, the bill would proceed to debate and potential floor votes in the Senate and then the House, per standard legislative process.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Transparency: Enhances public transparency around why information is withheld by the OCA.
  • Accountability: Creates a public record of withholding rationales, increasing accountability for information-management decisions.
  • Balance with investigations: Maintains a protection for ongoing investigations and protective measures, ensuring confidentiality where legally necessary.
  • Practical effects: May require the OCA to establish or maintain processes and records detailing withholding decisions and to publish those reasons for public inspection.

This summary provides a concise, nonpartisan overview of the bill’s purpose, provisions, affected parties, and procedural status based on the legislative text and actions to date.

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

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