March 2025

*** Legislation Alert ***

Pass the Prevention Package in Massachusetts!

Dear Advocates to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse,

The 2025-2026 Massachusetts Legislative Session is ramping up and several child sexual abuse-related bills have been filed. Enough Abuse has been working closely with legislators, advocates and survivors to ensure these bills make it to the finish line this year. With your support, we can ensure that Massachusetts children and youth are protected from the trauma of sexual abuse and its consequences for their health, mental health and academic success. 

For the latest summary of the prevention bills, click here. For a flyer that highlights the specific school-related "Prevention Package" bills, click here.

Here are three ways you can add your voice to the “Pass the Prevention Package!” call for action. 

  • Plan to attend Public Hearings: CSA prevention bills will be heard by the specific Committee to which the bill was assigned, i.e. Judiciary, Education or Children and Families. Once a Hearing is scheduled, anyone can come to the MA State House that day to provide in-person testimony or to submit their written testimony. Those unable to travel to Boston can present their remarks virtually the day of the hearing, but are required to register earlier. Enough Abuse will distribute to every advocate that attends a Public Hearing their very own “Prevention Paddle,” which will showcase the broad and strong support that exists for these bills. Please email us if you plan to attend a Hearing and reserve your Prevention Paddle!
  • Prepare testimony in support: If you plan to testify, you can draft your testimony now, keeping in mind the 3-minute time limit, and the need to state the bill number and name of the bill you are supporting. Explain why this legislation is important to you and how it will make a difference in your school, youth organization, city or town. Please email us if you plan to submit testimony, so we can send you a reminder as soon as the date for the Public Hearing is announced.
  • Find your legislator: After the "Prevention Package" bills have been heard, they will need to be moved favorably out of committee. That will be the time to reach out to your State Senator and Representatives to urge them to support the bills. You can email or call their Beacon Hill offices or, even better—meet them at their local District Offices. Click here to find the location of the District Office and the days and times your legislators are available there to meet constituents. 

Specifically, the "Prevention Package" Bills would:

1. Require child sexual abuse prevention education for staff and students of schools and youth organizations, and the adoption of a comprehensive Code of Conduct.

2. Enhance screening of new school employees for histories of sexual misconduct/abuse and prohibit the practice of “passing the trash.”

3. Criminalize sexual abuse of youth by adults in “Positions of Authority,” including school employees, and close the "age of consent loophole" that now prevents prosecution of abusers who target children 16-18 years of age.

4. Eliminate the civil and criminal Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse cases, so survivors have the opportunity to get justice in the courts.

5. Criminalize the creation, possession and distribution of “Child Sexual Abuse Material” (CSAM), including sexually explicit images/videos of children that are generated or modified using the latest technology, including AI.

For more information about the background of these bills, including links to the current bill language, click here to visit our Citizens to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse webpage.

Passing bills, even those that face little or no opposition, can be daunting. By banding together, we can create a powerful megaphone to ensure that these crucial bills become law and that children can be better protected from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The fight continues...


Jetta Bernier, Executive Director

ENOUGH ABUSE®, formerly Massachusetts Citizens for Children, dba MassKids, is the nation’s oldest citizen-based child advocacy organization, with a 6-decade history of improving the lives of vulnerable children. We prevent the sexual abuse of children in their homes, communities and online through prevention trainings, education and advocacy.

 

Contact ENOUGH ABUSE®

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