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June 9, 2025

*** Legislation Alert ***

Pass the Prevention Package in Massachusetts!

Dear Advocates to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse,

A Joint Committee on Education hearing has been scheduled and several key
Massachusetts child sexual abuse prevention bills are being heard! We need
YOUR support to get these bills passed this year! Please consider testiying
in support, in person or virtually, or submitting written testimony.

The hearing is scheduled at the MA State House at 24 Beacon St. in Boston
for next Tuesday, June 17th at 1pm EST, in room B-2.

Three bills in the "Prevention Package" are being heard:
* H.516 "An Act establishing employee screening requirements in schools
to prevent child sexual abuse" would prevent school from hiring abusers by
requiring enhanced reference checks
* S.405 "An Act stopping harm inflicted by the exploitation of life and
development" would require child sexual abluse prevention education for
staff and students in schools and the adoption of a Code of Conduct to
prevent child sexual abuse
* S.404 "An Act relative to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse"
would enhance opportunities for justice in CSA cases involving sports or
nonprofit institutions.

Please see the[2]"Prevention Package" bill summary for more details about
the bills being heard (they are highlighted in yellow).

Those who wish to testify virtually at the Joint Committee on Education
upcoming hearing must register by completing this form before 12:00
p.m. on Monday, June 16th, 2025. Registration will CLOSE at 12:00 p.m. on
Monday, June 16th.

Those wishing to testify in person may register in person at the time of
the hearing but are encouraged to register ahead of time using [3]this
form. The Chair will limit testimony to two minutes per individual and
reserves the right to call public officials out of turn.

Enough Abuse will be handing out "Prevention Paddles" for those who would
like to come to the hearing and express their support for these bills.

We also encourage you to submit written testimony if you have longer
information to share or are unable to testify in person or virtually.

Written testimony should be submitted to Fiona Bruce-Baiden
at [4][email protected] and Emily Reynolds
at [5][email protected], or to the Committee on Education at 24
Beacon Street, Room 473G, Boston, MA 02133. The Chairs request that those
submitting written testimony include “EDUCATION COMMITTEE TESTIMONY” and
the bill number IN THE SUBJECT LINE, and provide the committee with your
name, organization, and phone number.

For the hearing details, [6]click here.

The other bills in the prevention package, including the Age of
Consent/Adults in Positions of Authority or Trust bills, do not yet have
hearing dates as they are pending before other committees. We will keep you
updated. If you have questions about preparing testimony, please reach out
to us. Thank you all for your advocacy efforts.

To learn more about the "Prevention Package" bills and their
history, [7]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.

[8]Donate

Contact ENOUGH ABUSE®
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[12]www.enoughabuse.org - [13][email protected] - [14](617) 742-8555

References

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