Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S79 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2242 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 79
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Sal N. DiDomenico
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2242 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 79
18	18	By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 79) of Sal N. DiDomenico for
19	19	legislation to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet. Children, Families and Persons with
20	20	Disabilities.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
30	30	2amended by adding, after section 16CC, the following section:-
31	31	3 Section 16DD. There shall be established within the executive office of the governor a
32	32	4children's cabinet. The cabinet shall include, but not be limited to: the secretary of administration
33	33	5and finance; the secretary of health and human services; the secretary of education; the secretary
34	34	6of labor and workforce development; the commissioner of the department of children, and
35	35	7families; the secretary of the department of housing and community development; the
36	36	8commissioner of the department of youth services; the commissioner of the department of
37	37	9transitional assistance; the commissioner of the department of mental health, the commissioner
38	38	10of the department of public health; the commissioner of the department of early education and
39	39	11care; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education; the
40	40	12commissioner of the department of higher education; the commissioner of the department of 2 of 5
41	41	13development services; the director of the office of the child advocate; and the assistant secretary
42	42	14of health and human services for MassHealth; The cabinet shall be co-chaired by the secretary of
43	43	15health and human services and the secretary of education.
44	44	16 (a) The cabinet shall ensure that the public policy of the Commonwealth relating to
45	45	17children and youth is developed to promote interdepartmental collaboration and program
46	46	18implementation in order that services designed for children and youth are planned, managed, and
47	47	19delivered in a holistic and integrated manner to improve the children’s self-sufficiency, safety,
48	48	20economic stability, health, and quality of life. The cabinet shall:
49	49	21 i. Develop and implement a shared and cohesive vision using integrated services to
50	50	22improve child, youth, and family outcomes, including but not limited to issues relating to child
51	51	23poverty, educational preparedness, mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, and
52	52	24the health, safety and welfare of children.
53	53	25 ii. Develop a strategic plan to achieve the goals of the shared and cohesive vision. The
54	54	26plan shall be centered upon a long-term commitment to children and youth issues and align all
55	55	27public resources to serve children and youth and their families in a manner that supports the
56	56	28healthy growth and development of children. The plan shall include a continuum of services that
57	57	29will benefit children from prenatal care through services for youth in transition to adulthood.
58	58	30 iii. Develop and implement measurable outcomes for each state department, agency, and
59	59	31program that are consistent with the strategic plan. The cabinet shall establish a baseline
60	60	32measurement for each outcome and regularly report on the progress made toward achieving the
61	61	33desired outcome. 3 of 5
62	62	34 iv. Design and implement actions that will promote collaboration, creativity, increased
63	63	35efficiency, information sharing, and improved service delivery between and within state
64	64	36governmental organizations that provide services for children and youth and their families and
65	65	37shall include the long-range planning process mandated by clause ii.
66	66	38 v. Recommend improvements to existing services and programs, as well as new programs
67	67	39to meet unmet needs, based on data on current levels of use and outcomes wherever possible and
68	68	40recommending evidence-based programs wherever possible and appropriate.
69	69	41 vi. Foster public awareness of children and youth issues and develop new partners in the
70	70	42effort to serve children and youth.
71	71	43 vii Create a children and youth impact statement for evaluating proposed legislation,
72	72	44requested appropriations, and programs. The impact statement shall be shared with the
73	73	45legislature.
74	74	46 viii. Identify existing and potential funding streams and resources for children’s services,
75	75	47including, but not limited to, public funding, foundation and organization grants, and other forms
76	76	48of private funding opportunities, including public-private partnerships.
77	77	49 ix. Develop a children and youth-based budget structure and nomenclature that includes
78	78	50all relevant departments, funding streams, and programs. The budget shall facilitate improved
79	79	51coordination and efficiency, explore options for and allow maximization of federal financial
80	80	52participation, and implement the state’s vision and strategic plan. 4 of 5
81	81	53 x. Engage in other activities that will implement improved collaboration of agencies in
82	82	54order to create, manage, and promote coordinated policies, programs, and service delivery
83	83	55systems that support children and youth.
84	84	56 (b) The governor shall appoint an advisory committee that shall meet not less than four
85	85	57times a year and jointly with the children’s cabinet not less than two times a year. The advisory
86	86	58committee shall provide data-driven recommendations to address service gaps and regional
87	87	59equity concerns and will shall provide recommendations on coordinating services across the
88	88	60state. Members shall include the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children,
89	89	61families and persons with disabilities, 6-4 representatives from family resource centers including
90	90	62representatives from the western, central, and southeastern regions of the state; the executive
91	91	63director of the children’s trust fund or their designee; the executive director of the
92	92	64parent/professional action league or their designee; the executive director of the center for health
93	93	65information and analysis or their designee; the director of the department of family and medical
94	94	66leave or their designee; a member of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Commission; the
95	95	67director of the Massachusetts cultural council or their designee; the executive director of the
96	96	68GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders or their designee; the president of the Baker Center for
97	97	69Children and Families or their designee; the executive director of the Disability Law Center or
98	98	70their designee; an executive director of a non-profit child welfare agency; and an additional 5
99	99	71members with backgrounds including, but not limited to, pediatricians or other health care
100	100	72professionals servicing children, early childhood educators, teachers, school administrators,
101	101	73parents, youth, and other relevant experts with attention to diversity reflecting the composition of
102	102	74the child population. The governor shall designate one of the members of the advisory committee
103	103	75to serve as chair. 5 of 5
104	104	76 (c) The children’s cabinet shall, by November 1 of each year, provide an annual report
105	105	77concerning its activities, the status of children and youth in the commonwealth, and progress
106	106	78towards achieving the goals outlined in this section to the governor, the legislature and the
107	107	79public. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the
108	108	80house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities;
109	109	81the joint committee on education; the joint committee on higher education; the joint committee
110	110	82on mental health and substance abuse; the joint committee on public health; the joint committee
111	111	83on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means.
112	112	84 (d) The executive office of the governor shall provide administrative support and service
113	113	85to the cabinet. The cabinet shall meet at least four times each year and may solicit input from the
114	114	86public and any other individual offering testimony relevant to the issues considered. Each
115	115	87meeting must include a public comment session.