SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1981        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 348

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James T. Welch, (BY REQUEST)

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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 task force on child development information for parents.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1981        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 348

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 to establish a task force on child development information for parents.

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

Notwithstanding any general law to the contrary,

Section 1. There is hereby established a Task Force on Comprehensive Child Development Information for Parents of Children in the Public Schools (the ''Task Force").

Section 2. The Task Force shall consist of not more than 15 members, including the co-chairs and ex officio members. The Task Force shall include the following members: the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the President of the Senate or their designee, the Speaker of the House or their designee, the Senate and House co-chairs of the joint committee on education, and the Senate and House co-chairs of the joint committee on public health. Each member, other than the Co-Chairs and the ex officio members shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the Governor's pleasure, without compensation, solely in an advisory capacity. The following state officials, or their designees, shall serve as ex officio members: the Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Governor deems appropriate from the education sector including at least 1 member from each of the following groups : district school superintendents, school principals, school teachers, public school student currently attending a public school in Massachusetts, and a researcher with expertise on child development. The Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services shall co-chair the Task Force.

Section 3. The Task Force shall coordinate joint efforts to address issues relating to child development in the Commonwealth, including efforts to create detailed, child development information at each level of development between pre-kindergarten and twelfth grade to be made available to parents at every public school in local school districts. In fulfilling its mission, the Task Force shall: (a) develop actionable recommendations for local schools to assist them in preparing information on child development at each stage between pre-kindergarten and pre-kindergarten and twelfth grade that would be helpful and appropriate for parents ; (b) draft school-based written materials to effectively communicate the identified child development information; and (c) develop a proposal to finance the  printing and dissemination of those school-based written materials to  parents with a child enrolled at every public school in local school districts.

Section 4. The Task Force shall meet at such times and places as determined by the Co-Chairs.

Section 5. In fulfilling its mission, the Task Force shall seek the assistance of researchers and consultants with expertise in the area of childhood development. All agencies, departments and boards of the Commonwealth shall fully cooperate with the Task Force. The Task Force may call and rely upon the expertise and services of individuals and entities outside of its membership for research, advice, support or other functions necessary and appropriate to accomplish its mission.

Section 6. The Co-Chairs may direct the Task Force to form subcommittees to focus on particular child development topics that support the collective efforts of teachers, administrators, counselors, and parents in the Commonwealth. The composition and nature of each committee shall be determined by the Co-Chairs.

Section 7. The Task Force shall make public any findings or recommendations for, including any recommendations for further legislation, and shall file those recommendations with the Governor, clerks of the senate and house of representatives, and  the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than January 1, 2021.