SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2420        FILED ON: 2/25/2010

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2278

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Ten

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An Act establishing the after school and out of school time coordinating council.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 15 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 66.  There is hereby established the Massachusetts afterschool and out-of-school time coordinating council, to consist of 29 members: 4 members of the senate; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the senate committee on ways and means;  1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on education; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; provided, however, that 1 member of the senate shall be designated as co-chair of the council;  4 members of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the house committee on ways and means; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on education; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; provided, however, that 1 member of the house of representatives shall be designated as co-chair of the council; 21  members appointed by the governor; 1 of whom shall be the secretary of education; and 21 state and municipal  representatives from public safety, family and youth services, libraries, parks and recreation departments, art, workforce development, higher education, as well as leaders from public and private schools, community and faith based afterschool and out-of-school time programs, youth representatives, private funders, the business community and parents for the purpose of improving and increasing the access of children and youth to positive development opportunities in their non-school hours

Of the members appointed by the governor, 7 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 4 for a term of 2 years, 4 for a term of 3 years, 3 for a term of 4 years and 3 for a term of 5 years.  Upon expiration of the term of a member appointed by the governor, his successor shall be appointed in a like manner for a term of 5years.

The council shall review existing state and local programs and policies and make recommendations to strengthen afterschool and out-of-school time programs.  Efforts of the council shall include: exploration of new revenue streams at federal, state, municipal and private levels to increase access and quality of programs; creation of a centralized on-line listing of federal, state, local and private funding; increasing public awareness of the importance of afterschool and out-of-school time programs; improving quality and building support throughout the workforce; creating a workforce development program  based on national models; fostering partnerships and collaborations; and increasing access to programs and encouraging public and private support that will work to build a sustainable infrastructure for afterschool and out-of-school time programs.

The council shall meet not less than 6 times annually.  The secretary of the executive office of education shall appoint personnel necessary to coordinate the activities of the council and provide administrative support to the council, as requested.  The council shall: (1) develop, coordinate and implement a state afterschool and out-of-school time system, including aligning the efforts of the department of elementary and secondary education; and the department early education and care; (2) make recommendations regarding any legislation and regulations that would affect the afterschool and out-of-school time system of the commonwealth in light of the goals of the council; and (3) prepare and submit an annual progress report.  The council shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with any drafts of legislation necessary to carry out such recommendations, by filing the same with the governor, the clerks of the senate and the house who shall forward the same to the chairs of the joint committee on education, and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before December 31.