Bill H.5088

FILED ON: 7/25/2022

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5088

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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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:

Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after section 16BB, the following section:-

Section 16CC. There shall be established within the executive office of the governor a children's cabinet. The cabinet shall include, but not be limited to: the secretary of administration and finance; the secretary of health and human services; the commissioner of the department of children, youth and families; the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of public health; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; the commissioner of higher education; the director of the department of labor and workforce development; the child advocate; the assistant secretary of MassHealth; and the governor or his or her designee. The governor shall designate one of the members of the cabinet to be chair.

(a) The cabinet shall ensure that the public policy of the Commonwealth relating to children and youth is developed to promote interdepartmental collaboration and program implementation in order that services designed for children and youth are planned, managed, and delivered in a holistic and integrated manner to improve the children’s self-sufficiency, safety, economic stability, health, and quality of life. The cabinet shall:

i. Develop and implement a shared and cohesive vision using integrated services to improve child, youth, and family outcomes, including but not limited to issues relating to child poverty, educational preparedness, mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, and the health, safety and welfare of children.

ii. Develop a strategic plan to achieve the goals of the shared and cohesive vision. The plan shall be centered upon a long-term commitment to children and youth issues and align all public resources to serve children and youth and their families in a manner that supports the healthy growth and development of children. The plan shall include a continuum of services that will benefit children from prenatal care through services for youth in transition to adulthood.

iii. Develop and implement measurable outcomes for each state department, agency, and program that are consistent with the strategic plan. The cabinet shall establish a baseline measurement for each outcome and regularly report on the progress made toward achieving the desired outcome.

iv. Design and implement actions that will promote collaboration, creativity, increased efficiency, information sharing, and improved service delivery between and within state governmental organizations that provide services for children and youth and their families and shall include the long-range planning process mandated by clause ii.

v. Recommend improvements to existing services and programs, as well as new programs to meet unmet needs, based on data on current levels of use and outcomes wherever possible and recommending evidence-based programs wherever possible and appropriate.

vi. Foster public awareness of children and youth issues and develop new partners in the effort to serve children and youth.

vii Create a children and youth impact statement for evaluating proposed legislation, requested appropriations, and programs. The impact statement shall be shared with the legislature.

viii. Identify existing and potential funding streams and resources for children’s services, including, but not limited to, public funding, foundation and organization grants, and other forms of private funding opportunities, including public-private partnerships.

ix. Develop a children and youth based budget structure and nomenclature that includes all relevant departments, funding streams, and programs. The budget shall facilitate improved coordination and efficiency, explore options for and allow maximization of federal financial participation, and implement the state’s vision and strategic plan.

x. Engage in other activities that will implement improved collaboration of agencies in order to create, manage, and promote coordinated policies, programs, and service delivery systems that support children and youth.

(b) The governor shall appoint an advisory committee that will meet at least four times a year and jointly with the cabinet at least two times a year. Members shall include the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, pediatricians and other health care professionals servicing children, early childhood educators, teachers, school administrators, child welfare professionals, parents, youth, and other relevant experts with attention to diversity reflecting the composition of the child population .The committee shall include the voices of children as well as youth. The governor shall designate one of the members of the advisory committee to serve as chair.

(c) The children’s cabinet shall, by November 1 of each year, provide an annual report concerning its activities, the status of children and youth in the commonwealth, and progress towards achieving the goals outlined in this section to the governor, the legislature and the public. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; the joint committee on education; the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse; the joint committee on public health; the joint committee on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means.

(d) The executive office of the governor shall provide administrative support and service to the cabinet. The cabinet shall meet at least four times each year and may solicit input from the public and any other individual offering testimony relevant to the issues considered. Each meeting must include a public comment session.