By Mr. Swan of Springfield, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2259) of Benjamin Swan relative to domestic violence programs within the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Services.  Public Health.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Benjamin Swan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to the department of social services.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

 Section 2 of Chapter 18B of the General Laws of Massachusetts is hereby amended adding the following to Section 14 therein:— Temporary residential programs, and/or certified domestic violence programs shall be precluded from arbitrarily, or as a matter of procedure, transferring local residents who are victims of domestic violence out of the area.  This bill does not inhibit the transfer of a local resident; however, if a victim of domestic violence has legitimate reason to believe that she will be safe in a local facility, then she shall not be prevented from staying if vacancies are available.  No policy or program shall turn away a local victim of domestic violence in the name of safety.