MA S1069

Courts prohibited from granting visitation or custody rights to a parent convicted of rape, sexual assault, or related crimes under Chapter 265 and Chapter 272 when seeking access to a child conceived during the crime

Courts also prohibited from granting visitation or custody to parents convicted of assault and battery (Section 13A) or strangulation (Section 15D) when the victim was pregnant, became pregnant from the crime, shares a child with the defendant, or when a child witnessed the crime

Clear and convincing evidence standard allows courts to deny parental rights even without a criminal conviction; lack of prosecution does not prove a crime did not occur

Custody or visitation may only be granted if found to be in the child's best interests AND the mother affirmatively consents

Creates irrebuttable presumption that perpetrators are unfit parents for adoption consent purposes, while preserving child support obligations and the child's inheritance rights