Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of section 51A of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 280 of the acts of 1991, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence:- Any person who knowingly files a report of child abuse that is frivolous shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

SECTION 2. Clause (6) of section 51B of said chapter 119, as appearing in the 1990 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following two sentences:- If the department determines during the initial screening period of an investigation that said report under section fifty-one A is frivolous, or other absolute determination that abuse or neglect has not taken place, then said report shall be declared as "allegation invalid". If such reports are declared "allegation invalid", the name of the child, or identifying characteristics relating to the child, or the names of his parents or guardian or any other person relevant to the report, shall not be placed in the central registry, nor under any other computerized program utilized in the department.

SECTION 3. The first paragraph of section 51F of said chapter 119, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following two sentences:- If the department determines during the initial screening period of an investigation that said report under section fifty-one A is frivolous, or other absolute determination that abuse or neglect has not taken place, then said report shall be declared as "allegation invalid". If such reports are declared "allegation invalid", the name of the child, or identifying characteristics relating to the child, or the names of his parents or guardian or any other person relevant to the report, shall not be placed in the central registry, nor under any other computerized program utilized in the department.