Foxborough Aims to Expand Mandatory Reporters for Child Abuse

Foxborough’s push for more mandatory reporters for child abuse has reached the state level.

The selectmen announced last week that they have placed a home rule petition at the State House according to the Sun Chronicle. The issue will be on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting in February.

In the warrant article, anyone who has contact with children in an official capacity town, paid or unpaid, would be considered a reporter and receive training.

State Rep. Jay Barrows, who gave the petition to the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ legal counsel for review, said he was unsure if he could get the home rule petition through the legislative process.

The petition would need the approval of both town meeting and the state legislature to go into effect.