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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1284 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3302
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Antonio F. D. Cabral
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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 establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Antonio F. D. Cabral13th Bristol1/14/2025 1 of 5
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1284 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3302
By Representative Cabral of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3302) of
Antonio F. D. Cabral for legislation to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet. State
Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 189 OF 2023-2024.]
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 to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet.
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 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding, after section 16FF, the following section:-
3 Section 16GG. There shall be established within the executive office of the governor a
4children's cabinet. The cabinet shall include, but not be limited to: the secretary of administration
5and finance; the secretary of health and human services; the secretary of education; the secretary
6of labor and workforce development; the commissioner of the department of children, and
7families; the secretary of the department of housing and community development; the
8commissioner of the department of youth services; the commissioner of the department of
9transitional assistance; the commissioner of the department of mental health, the commissioner
10of the department of public health; the commissioner of the department of early education and 2 of 5
11care; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education; the
12commissioner of the department of higher education; the commissioner of the department of
13development services; the director of the office of the child advocate; and the assistant secretary
14of health and human services for MassHealth; The cabinet shall be co-chaired by the secretary of
15health and human services and the secretary of education.
16 (a) The cabinet shall ensure that the public policy of the Commonwealth relating to
17children and youth is developed to promote interdepartmental collaboration and program
18implementation in order that services designed for children and youth are planned, managed, and
19delivered in a holistic and integrated manner to improve the children’s self-sufficiency, safety,
20economic stability, health, and quality of life. The cabinet shall:
21 i. Develop and implement a shared and cohesive vision using integrated services to
22improve child, youth, and family outcomes, including but not limited to issues relating to child
23poverty, educational preparedness, mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, and
24the health, safety and welfare of children.
25 ii. Develop a strategic plan to achieve the goals of the shared and cohesive vision. The
26plan shall be centered upon a long-term commitment to children and youth issues and align all
27public resources to serve children and youth and their families in a manner that supports the
28healthy growth and development of children. The plan shall include a continuum of services that
29will benefit children from prenatal care through services for youth in transition to adulthood.
30 iii. Develop and implement measurable outcomes for each state department, agency, and
31program that are consistent with the strategic plan. The cabinet shall establish a baseline 3 of 5
32measurement for each outcome and regularly report on the progress made toward achieving the
33desired outcome.
34 iv. Design and implement actions that will promote collaboration, creativity, increased
35efficiency, information sharing, and improved service delivery between and within state
36governmental organizations that provide services for children and youth and their families and
37shall include the long-range planning process mandated by clause ii.
38 v. Recommend improvements to existing services and programs, as well as new programs
39to meet unmet needs, based on data on current levels of use and outcomes wherever possible and
40recommending evidence-based programs wherever possible and appropriate.
41 vi. Foster public awareness of children and youth issues and develop new partners in the
42effort to serve children and youth.
43 vii Create a children and youth impact statement for evaluating proposed legislation,
44requested appropriations, and programs. The impact statement shall be shared with the
45legislature.
46 viii. Identify existing and potential funding streams and resources for children’s services,
47including, but not limited to, public funding, foundation and organization grants, and other forms
48of private funding opportunities, including public-private partnerships.
49 ix. Develop a children and youth based budget structure and nomenclature that includes
50all relevant departments, funding streams, and programs. The budget shall facilitate improved
51coordination and efficiency, explore options for and allow maximization of federal financial
52participation, and implement the state’s vision and strategic plan. 4 of 5
53 x. Engage in other activities that will implement improved collaboration of agencies in
54order to create, manage, and promote coordinated policies, programs, and service delivery
55systems that support children and youth.
56 (b) The governor shall appoint an advisory committee that shall meet not less than four
57times a year and jointly with the children’s cabinet not less than two times a year. The advisory
58committee shall provide data-driven recommendations to address service gaps and regional
59equity concerns and will shall provide recommendations on coordinating services across the
60state. Members shall include the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children,
61families and persons with disabilities, 6-4 representatives from family resource centers including
62representatives from the western, central, and southeastern regions of the state; the executive
63director of the children’s trust fund or their designee; the executive director of the
64parent/professional action league or their designee; the executive director of the center for health
65information and analysis or their designee; the director of the department of family and medical
66leave or their designee; a member of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Commission; the
67director of the Massachusetts cultural council or their designee; the executive director of the
68GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders or their designee; the president of the Baker Center for
69Children and Families or their designee; the executive director of the Disability Law Center or
70their designee; an executive director of a non-profit child welfare agency; and an additional 5
71members with backgrounds including, but not limited to, pediatricians or other health care
72professionals servicing children, early childhood educators, teachers, school administrators,
73parents, youth, and other relevant experts with attention to diversity reflecting the composition of
74the child population. The governor shall designate one of the members of the advisory committee
75to serve as chair. 5 of 5
76 (c) The children’s cabinet shall, by November 1 of each year, provide an annual report
77concerning its activities, the status of children and youth in the commonwealth, and progress
78towards achieving the goals outlined in this section to the governor, the legislature and the
79public. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the
80house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities;
81the joint committee on education; the joint committee on higher education; the joint committee
82on mental health and substance abuse; the joint committee on public health; the joint committee
83on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means.
84 (d) The executive office of the governor shall provide administrative support and service
85to the cabinet. The cabinet shall meet at least four times each year and may solicit input from the
86public and any other individual offering testimony relevant to the issues considered. Each
87meeting must include a public comment session.