After David Almond’s death, Massachusetts House, Senate disagree on how to advance DCF reforms Updated May 06, 2021; Massachusetts lawmakers reaffirmed this week their commitment to enact child welfare reforms in the wake of 14-year-old David Almond’s death in October. But they disagree on how to advance those reforms: either fast-track it through a House bill backed by Speaker Ron Mariano or send a similar Senate bill for review in the Joint Committee for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, the traditional route for legislation about the state Department of Children and Families. “With Senate version hopefully we can find a way to be able to hear the bill in our committee, and we can come together with a bill that makes sense between both of those bills,” said Sen. Adam Gomez, the committee’s Senate chair.