An Act relative to bias-free child removals

This Massachusetts bill requires the Department of Children and Families to create a Bias-Free Case Review Team to evaluate emergency child removals. Before these teams review a case, they must strip the file of specific demographic details such as race, income, education level, and neighborhood location to prevent unconscious bias in decision-making. The law mandates that the department remove identifying information like names and socioeconomic status, with limited exceptions when allegations specifically involve cultural, religious, or disability-related concerns. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to a joint committee detailing how the program is implemented and its impact on removal rates for Black, Indigenous, and children of color.