Update (March 27, 2011): Fathers and Families” shared parenting bill has languished in the Joint Committee on the Judiciary in past years. We believe it might have suffered a similar fate this session, in part, because Co-Chairwoman Cynthia Creem of Newton, a divorce lawyer, has strongly opposed shared parenting bills in the past.
Now, through our efforts, we have managed to get our shared parenting bill assigned to a different committee, the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. While the bill still faces an uphill battle, we hope that it will get a fair and thoughtful hearing in this committee.
The bill now has a permanent number: H02684. (Previous numbers were temporary and should be disregarded.) Its lead sponsor is Representative John Scibak (“Sigh-back”). It is entitled “A Bill Relative to Supporting Children and Parental Custody.” It supports children and strengthens families by creating a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in divorce cases, so that children can sustain their loving relationships with both parents.
Fathers and Families continues to seek lead volunteers to coordinate our efforts to win over legislators. If you are willing to take a lead role, please contact me at NedHolstein@fathersandfamilies.org by email or at (617) 542-9300.
To learn more about the bill, please see our Massachusetts Shared Parenting page here.
Together with you in the love of our children,
Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S.
Founder, Chairman of the Board, Fathers and Families
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Update (February 8, 2011): Your Citizen Lobbyist efforts of the past several weeks have paid off, as nearly 30% of all Massachusetts legislators have signed on as co-sponsors of Shared Parenting legislation. We’re building a strong Citizen Lobbyist Program in Massachusetts and we want you to be a part of it–sign up here.
H02684, lead sponsored by Representative John Scibak, supports children and strengthens families by creating a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in divorce cases, so that children can sustain their loving relationships with both parents. To learn more about the bill, visit our Massachusetts Shared Parenting campaign page here.
A complete list of Massachusetts legislators who signed on to co-sponsor Shared Parenting legislation for 2011 is below.
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Fathers and Families gathered thousands of signatures to place shared parenting on the 2004 Massachusetts ballot and led a successful campaign for its passage, winning 86% of the vote. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick told the Legislature that if they pass our shared parenting bill, he will sign it, and F & F met with Patrick.
Through our efforts and the efforts of our allies, shared parenting was the most-requested plank in the Platform of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and the most popular issue on the Governor”s website in 2009. Shared parenting was endorsed in principle by the editorial board of the Boston Globe in 2008.
This is the year we plan to push Shared Parenting over the top–to join our efforts, sign up here.
To contribute financially to support Fathers & Families’ work on H02684 and Shared Parenting, please click here.
Together with you in the love of our children,
Ned Holstein, M.D., M.S.
Founder, Chairman of the Board
Glenn Sacks, MA
Executive Director
Massachusetts Legislators Who Signed on to Co-Sponsor Shared Parenting Legislation for 2011
Paul Adams 17th Essex
Denise Andrews 2nd Franklin
James Arciero 2nd Middlesex
F. Jay Barrows 1st Bristol
Matthew Beaton 11th Worcester
Jennifer E. Benson 37th Middlesex
John J. Binienda 17th Worcester
Stephen M. Brewer Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin
William N. Brownsberger 24th Middlesex
Thomas J. Calter 12th Plymouth
Linda Dean Campbell 15th Essex
Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex
James J. Dwyer 30th Middlesex
Carolyn C. Dykema 8th Middlesex
Kimberly Ferguson 1st Worcester
Paul K. Frost 7th Worcester
Sean Garballey 23rd Middlesex
Colleen M. Garry 36th Middlesex
Anne M. Gobi 5th Worcester
Thomas A. Golder, Jr. 16th Middlesex
Robert L. Hedlund Plymouth and Norfolk
Carlos Henriquez 5th Suffolk
Bradford Hill 4th Essex
Kate Hogan 3rd Middlesex
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 20th Middlesex
Brian A. Joyce Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth
Thomas P. Kennedy Second Plymouth and Bristol
Michael R. Knapik Second Hampden and Hampshire
Robert M. Koczera 11th Bristol
Kevin Kuros 8th Worcester
Steven L. Levy 4th Middlesex
Jason M. Lewis 31st Middlesex
David Paul Linsky 5th Middlesex
James Lyons 18th Essex
Thomas M. McGee Third Essex and Middlesex
Paul McMurtry 11th Norfolk
Aaron Michlewitz 3rd Suffolk
Shaunna O’Connell 3rd Bristol
James J. O’Day 14th Worcester
George N. Peterson, Jr. 9th Worcester
Anthony W. Petruccelli First Suffolk and Middlesex
Elizabeth Poirier 14th Bristol
John P. Presolo 16th Worcester
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. 12th Hampden
Richard J. Ross Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex
Angelo M. Scaccia 14th Suffolk
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr. 34th Middlesex
Todd M. Smola 1st Hampden
Joyce A. Spiliotis 12th Essex
David B. Sullivan 6th Bristol
Benjamin Swan 11th Hampden
Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex
James E. Timilty Bristol and Norfolk
Walter F. Timilty 7th Norfolk
Steven A. Tolman Second Suffolk and Middlesex
Chris Walsh 6th Middlesex
Daniel Winslow 9th Norfolk