Patrick Holland, Representative Koutoujian to Testify on “Patrick’s Law” - 01/23/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 23, 2008
Contact: Kathleen Skarin
617-722-2130
BOSTON – State Rep. Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, will testify tomorrow before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary with Patrick Holland regarding H. 1547, also known as “Patrick’s Law.” The bill would create a law allowing a child to sever legal ties with a parent who is convicted of murdering the child’s other parent.
Patrick Holland was 8 years old in 1998 when his mother was fatally shot by his father in their Quincy home. In the years that followed, Patrick’s biological father, Daniel Holland tried to remain involved in Patrick’s life while serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison, requesting copies of Patrick’s school report cards and other information.
Patrick felt strongly that his birth father should not be allowed to participate in his life, and subsequently hired an attorney to help him sever all legal ties. While there is not yet a Massachusetts law that would grant a child the clear-cut right to “divorce” a parent, Patrick persisted. The Department of Social Services stepped in to support Patrick, telling the courts he would be better off with his biological father out of his life.
In 2004, Daniel Holland agreed to give up his parental rights to Patrick. The younger Holland was taken into the custody of Rita and Ron Lazisky, a family friend who eventually adopted him in March, 2005.
“It was incredibly difficult for Patrick to be the victim of this terrible family tragedy, only to be re-victimized by his father’s attempts to remain in his life.” Koutoujian said. “While this bill won’t help Patrick any longer now that he is an adult, it will protect other children in his situation in the future.”
Filed by Rep. Koutoujian, “Patrick’s Law” would prevent other children faced with a situation similar to Patrick’s from having to endure what he did. Koutoujian and Holland drafted with bill with the assistance of victims advocacy group Jane Doe, Inc.
“It is unconscionable to require children to continue unwanted relationships with battering parents who killed their other parent,” said Mary R. Lauby, Executive Director for Jane Doe Inc. “These children deserve every chance possible to start their life again in a safe environment, free from further intrusion by the abusive parent. 'Patrick's Law' would make sure no other child faces the legal wrangling that he had to endure under these circumstances and protects children from being placed with an abusive parent.”
The Joint Committee on the Judiciary hearing will take place tomorrow at 1:00pm in Room A-1.
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