General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 18C Office of the Child Advocate

• Massachusetts General Laws - Definitions - Chapter 18C, Section 1
  As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:— “Advisory board”, the child advocate advisory...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Office of the child advocate; duties - Chapter 18C, Section 2
  There shall be an office of the child advocate which shall be independent of any supervision or control by any executive agency. The office shall:...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Child advocate; appointment; vacancies - Chapter 18C, Section 3
  The office shall be under the direction of the child advocate, who shall devote full time to the duties of this office. The child advocate...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Child advocate advisory board - Chapter 18C, Section 4
  There shall be a 25-member child advocate advisory board. The advisory board shall consist of the child advocate, who shall serve as chair, the secretary...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Investigation of critical incidents; coordination with other agencies; complaints; review of program effectiveness; oversight - Chapter 18C, Section 5
  (a) An executive agency shall inform the child advocate when a critical incident has occurred. The child advocate may conduct an investigation of the critical...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Access to facilities and records; release of information - Chapter 18C, Section 6
  The child advocate or his designee shall have access at any and all reasonable times to any facility, residence, program, or portion thereof, that is...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Witnesses; documents; subpoenas - Chapter 18C, Section 7
  The child advocate may request the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents, papers, books, records, reports, reviews, recommendations, correspondence, data and...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Discrimination or retaliation; penalties - Chapter 18C, Section 8
  No discriminatory or retaliatory action shall be taken against any person who communicates with or provides information to the office. Any person who knowingly or...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Procedures for performance of duties; rules and regulations - Chapter 18C, Section 9
  The child advocate shall develop internal procedures appropriate for the effective performance of his duties. The child advocate may, subject to chapter 30A, adopt, amend...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Annual report - Chapter 18C, Section 10
  The child advocate shall report annually to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the senate and the house committees...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Comprehensive plan for response to child abuse and neglect; advice of experts; contents - Chapter 18C, Section 11
  (a) The child advocate, in consultation with the advisory board and the interagency child welfare task force established by section 215 of chapter 6, shall...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Information and records; confidentiality; subpoena and discovery; public disclosure; investigation of critical incidents - Chapter 18C, Section 12
  The following provisions apply to information and records obtained, reviewed or maintained by the child advocate: (a) Notwithstanding chapter 66A, section 70 of chapter 111,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Personal liability for civil damages - Chapter 18C, Section 13
  No person employed by or contracted by or volunteering for the office shall be subject to suit directly, derivatively or by way of contribution or...

Last modified: September 11, 2015