An Act relative to jurisdiction in paternity actions

This bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify how courts determine abuse, neglect, or abandonment by a father in paternity cases. It specifically adds three scenarios to the legal definition of such behavior: a father refusing to acknowledge paternity, a child conceived through sexual assault by the father, or a history of domestic violence by the father against the mother. These changes directly affect legal proceedings involving child support and custody when paternity is contested or when the father has failed to accept parental responsibility. The legislation aims to ensure that fathers who deny paternity or have a history of violence are treated similarly to mothers who neglect their children when special findings are required.