Massachusetts S 2905: An Act relative to parentage to promote children's security

Bill Text

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2905 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court 
(2019-2020) 
_______________
 
 
 
SENATE, September 8, 2020. 
 The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was 
referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 77) of Bruce E. Tarr, Lenny Mirra, Jason 
M. Lewis, Rebecca L. Rausch and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to 
parentage to promote children's security, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2905). 
 
For the committee, 
 Sonia Chang-Diaz 
 

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        FILED ON: 9/1/2020 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2905 
 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court 
(2019-2020) 
_______________
 
 
An Act relative to parentage to promote children's security. 
 
 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 1 of chapter 209C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 8, and in lines 14, 15 and 17, 
3the word “paternity” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- 
4parentage. 
5 SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
6amended by striking out, in line 11 and in line 20, the words “child born out of wedlock” and 
7inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- nonmarital child. 
8 SECTION 3.  Section 2 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by 
9striking out, in line 1, the word “Paternity” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- 
10Parentage. 
11 SECTION 4. Said section 2 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
12amended by striking out, in lines 12, 13, 16, and in line 18, the word “paternity” and inserting in 
13place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- parentage. 

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14 SECTION 5. Said section 2 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
15amended by striking out, in line 5, the words “paternity filed pursuant to this chapter” and 
16inserting in place thereof the following words:- parentage filed pursuant to this chapter or chapter 
17209E. 
18 SECTION 6. Section 3 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by 
19striking out, in lines 3, 7, lines 35 and 36, and in line 51, the word “paternity” and inserting in 
20place thereof, in each instance, the following word:-  parentage.  
21 SECTION 7. Said section 3 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
22amended by inserting after the word “parentage”, in line 4, the following words:-  under this 
23chapter. 
24 SECTION 8. Section 4 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by 
25striking out, in lines 1 and 11, the word “paternity”, and inserting in place thereof, in each 
26instance, the following word:- parentage. 
27 SECTION 9. Section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by 
28striking out, in lines 1 and 2, lines 19, 35, 55, 60 and 62, the word “paternity” and inserting in 
29place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- parentage. 
30 SECTION 10. Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
31amended by inserting after the word “mother”, in lines 3, 7, the first time it appears, and in line 
3217, the following words:- person who gave birth. 

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33 SECTION 11. Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
34amended by striking out, in line 4, the words “the mother” and inserting in place thereof the 
35following words:- that person. 
36 SECTION 12, Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
37amended by striking out, in line 4 and in line 9, the second time it appears, the word “father” and 
38inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- other parent. 
39 SECTION 13. Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
40amended by striking out, in lines 4 and 21, the word “himself” and inserting in place thereof, in 
41each instance, the following word:- themselves.  
42 SECTION 14. Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby further 
43amended by striking out, in lines 21 and 22, the words “mother’s husband” and inserting in place 
44thereof the following word:- spouse. 
45 SECTION 15. Said section 5 of said chapter 209C, as so appearing, is hereby amended 
46by striking out, in lines 24 to 37, inclusive, the words “mother and the putative father, whether 
47either or both is a minor, and may be registered pursuant to section 11 only if the signatures of 
48the mother and the father are notarized. If the mother of the child was or is married and the 
49child’s birth occurs during the marriage or withi