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Grieving Parents Ask Legislature to Create Paid Bereavement Leave After Child Death
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Summary
Parents, clinicians and grief‑support organizations urged the committee to pass H2064, which would guarantee up to 10 days of paid bereavement leave for parents after the death of a child under 18, citing clinical evidence on acute grief and calls for a uniform statutory minimum.
Parents, clinicians and grief‑support advocates urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to back H2064, a bill that would provide up to 10 days of paid bereavement leave to parents following the death of a child under 18. Witnesses framed the bill as a narrow, compassionate measure acknowledging the acute, sometimes long‑term impacts of child loss.
Dr. Kristen Dillon, a clinical psychologist and bereaved mother who founded Junie’s Place, described her own experience after the sudden death of her 2½‑year‑old daughter and said that acute grief reduced her ability to concentrate and function. “Ten days will never be enough,” Dr. Dillon said, “but this bill is just the beginning,” arguing the statute would create a minimum that many employers do not now provide.
Legislators and witnesses stressed clinical evidence that bereaved parents face elevated risks of depression, anxiety and physical illness and that families commonly use vacation, sick time or unpaid leave for funeral and immediate‑care needs. Cissy O’Shaughnessy of Samaritans highlighted data on suicide bereavement and the higher mental‑health risks for parents who have lost a child to suicide, and urged a statutory baseline to ensure compassionate, consistent treatment across employers.
Renee Harrell and other parents who lost children described the practical burdens after a death—planning funerals, returning medical equipment and navigating payroll and employer policies—while urging statutory clarity so compassionate employer practices do not depend on individual goodwill. Witnesses noted that most U.S. bereavement allowances are short (three to five days) and that Massachusetts could be “a leader” by guaranteeing ten days of paid leave in such cases.
Sponsors and advocates said the bill’s scope is limited: it would apply to parents following a child’s death from any cause and was intended as a minimum statutory guarantee, not a cap on employer generosity. Dr. Dillon and Junie's Place representatives said the organization also provides counseling supports and would continue nonprofit services alongside legislative change.
Committee members asked about comparators in other states and the policy’s design. Witnesses said several states offer short bereavement periods for general loss but that few guarantee paid time specifically for parents after the loss of a child; they framed the bill as a modest but meaningful policy to standardize employer treatment.
No committee vote occurred during the hearing; sponsors asked the committee to report H2064 favorably and to consider it as part of a package of family‑support measures under review.
