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S 146

Relates to prohibiting forensic evaluations in a custody or visitation proceeding; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Palumbo

Massachusetts would require DCF to implement a standardized maltreatment coding system to classify child abuse types and severity at initial investigations.

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
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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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