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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2633 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 152
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul J. Donato
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to amend the structure of the Commission of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul J. Donato35th Middlesex1/19/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2633 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 152
By Representative Donato of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 152) of Paul
J. Donato relative to the structure of the commission of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to amend the structure of the Commission of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 3, Section 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended as follows:
2 Strike paragraph (a) and replace with the following:
3 There shall be a permanent commission on the status of grandparents raising
4grandchildren which shall consist of 21 persons as follows: 3 persons appointed by the secretary
5of elder affairs, 1 of whom shall be from the secretary's office; 3 persons appointed by the
6commissioner of children and families, 1 of whom who shall be from the department, 2 of whom
7shall be grandparents or kinship caregivers with current or past experience raising minor
8children; 1 person appointed by the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance; 2
9persons appointed by the governor; 2 persons appointed by the speaker of the house of
10representatives, 1 of whom shall be a member of the house; 1 person appointed by the house
11minority leader; 2 persons appointed by the president of the senate, 1 of whom shall be a member
12of the senate; 1 person appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 person appointed by the 2 of 3
13attorney general; 1 person appointed by the chief justice of the probate and family court who
14shall have a demonstrated commitment to the rearing of grandchildren by grandparents; 1 person
15to be appointed by the chief justice of the juvenile court who shall have a demonstrated
16commitment to the rearing of grandchildren by grandparents; and 3 persons who shall be
17grandparents or kinship caregivers with current or past experience raising minor children, who
18shall be nominated for appointment by the officers of the commission and appointed by a
19majority vote of the commissioners present and voting. Members of the commission shall be
20residents of the commonwealth who have demonstrated a commitment to the rearing of
21grandchildren by grandparents.
22 Strike paragraph (b) and replace with the following:
23 (b) Members shall serve terms of 4 years and until their successors are appointed.
24Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing
25authority for the balance of the unexpired term. All appointments shall be made in consultation
26with the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Nominations for
27members shall be solicited by the appointing authorities between August 1 and September 16 of
28each year through an open application process.
29 Strike paragraph ( e) and replace with the following:
30 (e) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting
31grandparents raising grandchildren in the commonwealth. In furtherance of that responsibility,
32the commission shall: (1) foster unity among grandparents raising grandchildren communities
33and organizations in the commonwealth by promoting cooperation and sharing of information
34and encouraging collaboration and joint activities; (2) serve as a liaison between government and 3 of 3
35private interest groups with regard to matters of unique interest and concern to grandparents
36raising grandchildren in the commonwealth; (3) assess programs, regulations, and practices in all
37state agencies as they affect grandparents raising grandchildren, as the commission deems
38necessary and appropriate, and advocate for changes the commission deems necessary and
39appropriate; (4) advise executive and legislative bodies of the potential effect of proposed
40legislation on grandparents raising grandchildren, as the commission deems necessary and
41appropriate, and advocate for changes the commission deems necessary and appropriate; (5)
42investigate the merits of the establishment of a state agency dedicated to grandparents issues and
43determine how such agency would be set up; and (6) identify issues that are faced by relatives,
44other than parents, who are raising children