Sen. Lovely's Relative Adoption Law Sails Through Legislature

SALEM, MA — Sen. Joan Lovely's (D-Salem) bill to allow the adoption of close relatives sailed through the legislature in a unanimous vote on Thursday.

The bill allows for the adoption of younger sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. Massachusetts is currently one of only two states in the country that prohibits such adoptions.

“In recent years, the commonwealth has made great strides to expand the legal definition of 'family,'" said Lovely, who sponsored the An Act relative to expanding access to adoption. "I am pleased to have sponsored S.2616 to better reflect and support residents across our commonwealth who love and care for another. The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of our vulnerable youth without parents, making familial relationships and bonds more important than ever."

Lovely said the bill would allow greater opportunities for families to stay together in times of trauma.

"Our children deserve to be cared for by the people who know and love them, and this bill helps make that a reality."

Also passing the Senate on Thursday was a bill to provide homeless individuals greater access to state identification cards. While I.D. cards are often required to apply for work, benefits and school, fees make them cost prohibited for some of the most vulnerable residents in the state.

"The benefits are clear: providing access to identification for people who would otherwise struggle to receive it lifts up the lives of those in need," Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) said. "Separately, it is also time we recognized that in some cases, close relatives, even siblings, are the best choice for an adoptive guardian.

"Both bills will serve to strengthen people's lives in a tangible way."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)