Massachusetts H 4644: An Act enhancing child welfare protections

Bill Text

HOUSE  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  No. 4644 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
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                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, October 21, 2025.                           
 
The  committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  to  whom  was  referred  the  Bill 
enhancing    child    welfare    protections    (House,    No.    4416),    reports 
recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting 
therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 4644). 
 
For the committee, 
 
AARON MICHLEWITZ. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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        FILED ON: 10/21/2025 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4644 
 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
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An Act enhancing child welfare protections. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. Section 172 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 133, the words “2A of chapter 38” 
3and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 16 of chapter 18C. 
4 SECTION 2. Section 6A of chapter 18B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby 
5amended by striking out the fifth paragraph. 
6 SECTION 3. Said chapter 18B is hereby further amended by inserting after section 6A 
7the following section:- 
8 Section 6B. (a) The commissioner shall, subject to appropriation, establish and maintain 
9an education unit. The education unit shall: (i) implement and oversee the regional and area 
10offices’ work on education for children receiving services from the department, consistent with 
11policies created by the department’s education director; (ii) monitor student academic progress of 
12children under the care and custody of the area office not less than once per academic quarter; 
13(iii) provide support and assistance to department social workers regarding educational needs of 

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14children; (iv) provide detailed training to department social workers on the best practices to 
15monitor a child’s education experiences, recognizing any unavailability of resources preventing a 
16child from participating in school courses and developing individual education plans and 504 
17plans; (v) ensure the timeliness and accuracy of the transfer of education records detailing a 
18child’s educational background and needs; and (vi) maintain contact with appropriate local 
19school districts and education organizations to facilitate enrollment, information sharing and 
20placement of children into school districts served by the area office. 
21 (b) The commissioner shall appoint an education director. The education director’s duties 
22shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) developing, implementing and overseeing the 
23department’s policies on education for children under the care and custody of the department, 
24including policy development and practice guidance; (ii) monitoring state and federal laws, 
25programs and resources that may impact the education of children under the care and custody of 
26the department; (iii) advising the commissioner and all education specialists on all matters 
27relating to education, strategic education initiatives, policy and practice management matters; 
28(iv) coordinating efforts of the education specialists to identify and address systemic barriers to 
29accessing educational services for children under the care and custody of the department, 
30including issues related to transportation for children in department care or custody to attend 
31their school of origin; (v) coordinating with department area and regional offices on education 
32related issues; and (vi) facilitating best practice training for education specialists. The education 
33director shall perform duties pursuant to this section and such other duties as may be assigned by 
34the commissioner. 
35 (c) The director shall appoint, subject to appropriation and the approval of the 
36commissioner, education specialists who shall be employees of the department and who shall 

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37devote their full time and attention to supporting the department’s goal of educational stability 
38and success for all elementary and secondary school students under the care and custody of the 
39department. 
40 (d) An education specialist may accompany social workers to meetings with school 
41personnel, including, but not limited to, meetings relative to a child’s individual education plan 
42or 504 plan. 
43 SECTION 4. Section 7 of said chapter 18B, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is 
44hereby amended by striking out subsection (e) through (o), inclusive, and inserting in place 
45thereof the following 11 subsections:- 
46 (e) The commissioner shall develop and implement a plan for the orientation