MA H4017

Requires courts to recognize parental alienation as a form of psychological child abuse causing emotional and developmental harm to children in custody and parenting time proceedings

Mandates the Department of Children and Families develop educational programs for parents in custody disputes, establish specialized support services including counseling and therapy, and create assessment guidelines with training for personnel

Establishes criteria for identifying parental alienation through collaboration between the chief justice of the trial court, DCF commissioner, and mental health commissioner

Authorizes courts to order remedies including counseling for the alienating parent, family therapy, parenting coordinators, custody modifications, or supervised parenting time when alienating behaviors are established

Requires annual reporting to the legislature on cases identified, interventions used, and outcomes achieved, along with maintaining a database tracking parental alienation cases and intervention effectiveness