SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2667

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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SENATE, April 30, 2020.

The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 67) of Joan B. Lovely, Diana DiZoglio, William N. Brownsberger, Patrick M. O'Connor and other members of the General Court  for legislation to provide immediate childcare assistance to homeless families, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2667).

For the committee,

Sonia Chang-Diaz

        FILED ON: 1/31/2020

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2667

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act providing immediate childcare assistance to homeless families.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 15D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- 

Section 19. (a) A family placed in temporary emergency assistance shelter and receiving TAFDC assistance from the department of transitional assistance shall be eligible for the department of early education and care’s homeless child care assistance vouchers when the family first arrives at the shelter and at any time the family chooses while residing in the shelter.

(b) A family receiving TAFDC assistance and living in a any type of shelter shall be eligible for a full-time child care referral from the department of transitional assistance. 

(c) A letter verifying shelter residency will qualify a family receiving TAFDC assistance for a full-time childcare referral from the department of transitional assistance.

(d) Upon entry to a temporary emergency assistance shelter, domestic violence shelter, substance abuse and recovery shelter or non-emergency assistance shelter, children ages zero to 3 years old will be screened for development risk factors and/or delays unless such screening has already occurred in accordance with department of public health standards. Screening standards will be established in coordination with the department of early education and care and the department of public health.

(e) The department of housing and community development shall adopt regulations or policies for the administration of this act within 90 days of the effective date of this act.

SECTION 2. Section 3 of Chapter 118 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “due to illness or disability” the following words:-

“or if the family is working on securing stable, permanent housing or experiencing homelessness, or  as defined in Section 30 of Chapter 23B of the General Laws.”