Thank you to our legislators & Governor for passing the Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA), also known as an Act to Ensure Legal Parentage Equality!
We also extend a BIG thank you to the Massachusetts Parentage Act Coalition, of which we were proud to be a member, and our Children's League Members for your steadfast advocacy.
Bill Highlights:
This child-centered bill updates Massachusetts’ forty-year-old parentage statutes to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ families, families formed through assisted reproduction, and families that include a de facto or functional parent. This historic legislation, awaiting the Governor's signature, will ensure all children have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship no matter the gender or marital status of their parents or how their family is formed.
Looking Ahead:
Many of our other legislative priorities haven't yet passed, so you may be asking, "what's next"? Well, it's important to maintain optimism and continue our advocacy. Due to the fact that our bills are not controversial, our children and family champions in the House and Senate still have time to push our bills into laws before the session technically ends in December 2024. As a reminder, the Foster Parents' Bill of Rights didn't pass until the fall after the prior formal session, so there is still hope! Let's continue advocating for our League's priorities on behalf of vulnerable children, adolescents, and families across the Commonwealth!
Please reach out to your legislator now.
Let them know that we're happy about the Massachusetts Parentage Act passing but concerned we didn't see more of our priority legislation for children and families advance yet. Share why it's so important that they move the following legislation forward:
- An Act Enhancing Child Welfare Protections (Child Welfare Omnibus) (S.2804 - Senate Ways and Means)
- Enhances opportunities to address racial disproportionality and disparity, as well as transition age youth outcomes, timely and appropriate attorney involvement, and education continuity.
- Enhances opportunities to address racial disproportionality and disparity, as well as transition age youth outcomes, timely and appropriate attorney involvement, and education continuity.
- An Act Establishing a Bill of Rights for Children in Foster Care (S.2803– Senate Ways and Means)
- Codifies and creates life-enhancing rights for children in care, such as promoting connection to family, community, education supports, access to case workers and attorneys, and participation in planning, notice, records, and complaints.
- Codifies and creates life-enhancing rights for children in care, such as promoting connection to family, community, education supports, access to case workers and attorneys, and participation in planning, notice, records, and complaints.
- An Act Protecting Benefits Owed to Foster Children (H.4704 – House Ways and Means)
- Ensures vulnerable children eligible for benefits are receiving them and youth exiting state care without permanency have these needed assets and receive financial literacy training.
- Ensures vulnerable children eligible for benefits are receiving them and youth exiting state care without permanency have these needed assets and receive financial literacy training.
- An Act to Provide Identification to Youth and Adults Experiencing Homelessness (S.2251 / H.3388 / H.3360 – House Ways and Means (passed the Senate in July 2023))
- Creates a process for a person who is homeless or an unaccompanied homeless youth to apply for a state identification card and waive fees to accomplish important tasks and access opportunities, e.g., apply for jobs, enroll in education programs, and open financial accounts.
Thank you for your valuable time and efforts advocating for children and families in the Commonwealth! Let's get as many of these bills passed before the 2023-2024 session ends so access to these life-enhancing rights begins as soon as possible.