H4646
An Act enhancing child welfare protections
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to strengthen protections for children within the Massachusetts child welfare system. It seeks to improve the processes and outcomes related to child abuse and neglect investigations, permanency planning, and foster care. The legislation focuses on increasing support for children and families involved in the system, with an emphasis on timely interventions and improved outcomes. It also intends to enhance accountability and transparency within child welfare agencies.
Key provisions
- Strengthening requirements for child protective service investigations.
- Expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment for children and families.
- Improving permanency planning processes to expedite reunification or adoption.
- Increasing support for foster parents and kinship caregivers.
- Enhancing data collection and reporting on child welfare outcomes.
- Establishing a task force to review and recommend improvements to the child welfare system.
- Mandating training for child welfare professionals on trauma-informed care.
Who is affected
- Children in foster care
- Families involved in child protective services
- Foster parents
- Child protective service workers
- Kinship caregivers
Notable changes
- The bill likely includes provisions for increased funding for child welfare services.
- It may establish new standards for the investigation and handling of child abuse and neglect cases.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Cosponsors
Christopher J. Worrell
Jay D. Livingstone
Russell E. Holmes
Thomas W. Moakley
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.4646 194th (Current)
An Act enhancing child welfare protections
House bill No. 4644, as amended and passed to be engrossed by the House. October 22, 2025.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill History Cosponsors
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4646
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 10/22/2025 | House | H4644, published as amended |
| 10/22/2025 | House | Passed to be engrossed - 159 YEAS to 1 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 96 ) |
| 10/27/2025 | Senate | Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
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