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.