(BOSTON—7/8/2025) Today, Senator Feeney testified before the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities in strong support of legislation he has filed, along with Representative Michael Chaisson, to strengthen mandated reporter provisions across the Commonwealth. The Senator was proud to testify alongside members of the Foxborough Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Committee, including Foxborough Superintendent Dr. Amy Berdos, Pastor William Dudley, Kay Andberg and former Foxborough Select Board member Jim DeVellis.

S127, “An Act authorizing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish additional mandated reporters for the purpose of the protection and care of children” was filed by Senator Feeney and modeled after the successful work of the Foxborough Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Committee. The bill, which is supported by the Office of the Child Advocate, adds to the definition of Mandated Report to include:

• Athletic coaches and higher education personnel;

• A recreational service provider (including but not limited to any personnel of a public, private, or religious organization providing recreational activities or services on a regular basis that are specifically designed for children and require direct supervision of children, including but not limited to day camps, summer camps, youth programs, sports organizations, and scouting groups, or personnel of a public library);

• It also adds to the definition anyone 18 or older who is an unpaid employee or volunteer working in a role or performs the functions of a role that would qualify them as a mandated reporter.

“Strengthening our mandated reporter statutes to ensure no child falls through the cracks is a matter of common sense, common good and life/death for children caught in the vile grip of abuse. By expanding the definition of who is a mandated reporter, we have the opportunity to work more effectively as a community to identify instances of abuse, take action and intervene to protect even more children from the insidious perpetrators of abuse. Thank you to the Town of Foxborough and the Foxborough Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Committee for turning pain into purpose and setting the example for excellence in mandated reporter work in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough).

The bill also requires that newly designated mandated reporters under this section be required to receive evidence-based training within 180 days of their designation as a mandated reporter that is approved by the Office of the Child Advocate and that specializes in the prevention of child sexual abuse, other forms of abuse, neglect, and mandated reporting. 

The Foxborough Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Committee (FCSAAC) originated following the story of abuse of William Sheehan, a Foxboro teacher, scoutmaster and director at a local park who allegedly molested dozens of children in Foxboro and Florida from the 1960s through the 1980s. Allegations of his abuse were brought to light in 2012, and warrants were issued by Foxboro Police and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office for Sheehan’s arrest in 2012. It was determined that he was unfit to stand trial due to late-stage Alzheimer’s.   

Transforming the pain of William Sheehan’s actions into purpose, the Foxborough Select Board established the FCSAAC in 2013, charged with working directly with town employees to raise awareness of simple and effective ways for the public to be aware of risk factors, as well as provide education to reduce the opportunity for potential abuse in the Town of Foxborough. Given the success of the Committee’s work, Senator Feeney filed S127 to implement this effective program state-wide and protect even more children from abuse.