SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1453        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 215

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas M. McGee

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

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1453        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 215

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2278 OF 2009-2010.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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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 18 members:  1 representative from the Executive Office of Education to be appointed by the secretary of education; 4 members from the Legislature; 1 of whom shall be a member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker, 1 of whom shall be member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president, and 2 of whom shall be the chairs of the joint committee on education; provided, however, that 1 member of the house of representatives and 1 member of the senate shall be designated as co-chairs of the council; 5 members representing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Public Health, each to be appointed by the respective commissioner; and 8 members appointed by the governor including representatives from 2 community-based organizations providing afterschool and out-of-school time programs, a representative from the Board of Library Commissioners, a superintendent of schools whose district offers afterschool programs, a representative from private funders supporting afterschool and out-of-school time programs, a representative from Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, a representative from the governor’s youth council, and a parent or guardian of a child who benefits from the services of afterschool and out-of-school time programs 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, 3 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 1 for a term of 2 years, 1 for a term of 3 years, 2 for a term of 4 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 5 years.

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: establishing and enhancing access for all children and families to learning opportunities; ensuring that afterschool and out-of-school time funding is well coordinated; 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; building and evaluating program quality; 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 4 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 concerning the council’s activities with appropriate recommendations concerning afterschool and out-of-school time programs to 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.