An Act improving legal and administrative proceedings for court-involved children and families

HD 379 modifies Massachusetts court procedures for children and families involved in custody or care cases. It clarifies "custody" to include specific powers (like medical care decisions and visitation control), requires courts to reconsider objections to custody actions de novo, and mandates courts to prioritize sibling contact when ordering placements. The bill also allows courts to appoint neutral investigators whose reports become admissible evidence, replaces certain expert reports with these investigator findings, and creates a 60-day review window for temporary custody orders. These changes directly affect children in court cases, their parents/guardians, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and foster care providers. The bill focuses on standardizing procedures and strengthening child-centered decision-making within existing legal frameworks.