An Act minimizing trauma to children and families

This bill (HD 377) requires Massachusetts child welfare departments to seek court approval within four hours when removing a child without prior court order, reducing unnecessary delays. It mandates quarterly public reports tracking cases where custody was taken without court order, including the number of children involved and how often approval took over four hours. The bill also creates a process for judges to grant emergency custody approval by phone when courts are closed, requiring departments to file written petitions when courts reopen. These changes directly affect child welfare departments, juvenile courts, and families experiencing emergency child removals.