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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3210 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 215
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
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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 supporting the development of children experiencing homelessness.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3210 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 215
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 215) of
Marjorie C. Decker for legislation to provide services to certain children experiencing
homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act supporting the development of children experiencing homelessness.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 15D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
3 Section 19. (a) A family placed in temporary emergency assistance shelter shall be
4eligible for the department of early education and care’s homeless child care assistance vouchers
5when the family first arrives at the shelter and at any time the family chooses while residing in
6the shelter regardless of whether they meet work requirements as determined by the department
7of transitional assistance.
8 (b) A family who meets the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act definition of
9homeless shall be eligible for the department of early education and care’s homeless child care
10assistance vouchers, regardless of whether they meet work requirements as determined by the
11department of transitional assistance. 2 of 2
12 (c) A letter verifying shelter residency will qualify a family for a full-time childcare
13referral from the department of transitional assistance.
14 (d) Upon (i) a family’s entry to a temporary emergency assistance shelter, domestic
15violence shelter, substance abuse and recovery shelter or non-emergency assistance shelter, or
16(ii) upon family’s receipt of a letter from the department of early education and care or its
17designees verifying that a family meets the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act
18definition of homeless, any of the family’s children ages zero to three years shall be considered
19as qualifying for early intervention services according to department of public health operational
20standards. This qualification shall ensure eligibility for services regardless of the presence or
21absence of other relevant risk factors, and qualification shall begin on the date of their entry into
22shelter or receipt of a McKinney-Vento verification letter and continue for one year after their
23exit from shelter or receipt of McKinney-Vento verification letter or until the day before the
24child’s third birthday, whichever occurs first. Early intervention services shall be rendered once
25an evaluation and determination of need has been established by an early intervention
26professional; provided that said evaluation shall occur within thirty (30) days of entry into shelter
27or receipt of a McKinney-Vento verification letter.
28 SECTION 2. The department shall adopt regulations or policies and remove procedural
29barriers for the administration of this act within 90 days of the effective date of this act.