HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3061 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 147
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
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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 providing immediate childcare assistance to homeless families.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 1/11/2023 |
Kevin G. Honan | 17th Suffolk | 1/22/2023 |
Samantha Montaño | 15th Suffolk | 1/23/2023 |
Vanna Howard | 17th Middlesex | 1/31/2023 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 1/31/2023 |
Jon Santiago | 9th Suffolk | 2/6/2023 |
Alan Silvia | 7th Bristol | 2/10/2023 |
Priscila S. Sousa | 6th Middlesex | 2/14/2023 |
Danillo A. Sena | 37th Middlesex | 2/17/2023 |
Brandy Fluker Oakley | 12th Suffolk | 3/9/2023 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 9/14/2023 |
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf | 17th Worcester | 9/18/2023 |
Pavel M. Payano | First Essex | 1/2/2024 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3061 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 147
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 147) of Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to childcare assistance to homeless families. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 200 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 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 regardless of whether they meet work requirements as determined by the department of transitional assistance.
(b) A family who meets the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act definition of homeless and is 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. {regardless of whether they meet work requirements as determined by 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 (i) a family’s entry to a temporary emergency assistance shelter, domestic violence shelter, substance abuse and recovery shelter or non-emergency assistance shelter, or (ii) upon family’s receipt of a letter from EEC or its designees verifying that a family meets the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act definition of homeless, any of the family’s children ages zero to three years shall be considered as qualifying for early intervention services according to DPH operational standards. This qualification shall ensure eligibility for services regardless of the presence or absence of other relevant risk factors, and qualification shall begin from the date of their entry into shelter or receipt of McKinney-Vento verification letter and continue for one year after their exit from shelter or receipt of McKinney-Vento verification letter.
SECTION 2. The department shall adopt regulations or policies and remove procedural barriers for the administration of this act within 90 days of the effective date of this act.