Whereas, in Massachusetts Black youth and young adults are more than 4x as likely to experience homelessness as compared to the overall population of youth and young adults;

Whereas, in Massachusetts Latinx are youth and young adults are more than 2.5x as likely to experience homelessness;

Whereas, in Massachusetts 24% of all youth and young adults experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+;

Whereas, Massachusetts’ population of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness remains at unacceptable levels with 3,387 unaccompanied youth under the age of eighteen experiencing homelessness;

Whereas, the average age that unaccompanied youth reported leaving home permanently as minors in 2021 was 15.9 years old;

Whereas, Massachusetts age of consent for supportive services or shelter is eighteen years of age;

Whereas, the Commonwealth established the Massachusetts Special Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth in 2014 to make recommendations to ultimately provide comprehensive and effective responses to the unique needs of this population;

Therefore, Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended to allow unaccompanied homeless youth between the ages of 15 and 18 to consent to supportive services and shelter.

SECTION 1.

Chapter 6A as appearing in the Official Edition of the General Laws passed through June 30, 2014 shall be amended by inserting Section 16X1/2 after Section 16X.

SECTION 2.

(A) Definitions: In This Section the following words shall have the meanings indicated.

(B) (1) “Service Provider” means a public or private nonprofit organization that provides shelter and supportive services to unaccompanied minors in need of shelter. (2) “Service Provider” includes a host home program and shared living programs.

(C) “Supportive Services” means interventions, services, or resources necessary to assist unaccompanied minors in need of shelter in acquiring or maintaining: (1) stable housing; (2) permanent connections, including ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other positive social networks; (3) financial stability; (4) education, employment or income, including high performance in completion of education and training activities, especially for younger youth, and starting and maintaining adequate and stable employment, particularly for older youth; or (4) social and emotional wellbeing, including the development of key competencies, attitudes, and behaviors that equip a young person to succeed across multiple domains of daily life, including school, work, relationships, and community.

(D) “Unaccompanied Minor In Need of Supportive Services or Shelter” means a minor at least fifteen  years of age: (1) who is not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian; and (2) who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as defined in M.G.L. Chapter 6A Section 16W or (3) whose status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the near future.

Statuses or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include (but are not limited to): (1) youth exiting state-systems of care; (2) youth who previously experienced  homelessness (3) youth whose parents or primary caregivers have experienced housing instability or homelessness; (4) youth who are exposed to abuse and neglect in their homes; (5) youth who experience significant conflict with parents/ guardians; and (6) runaways.

SECTION 3.

(A) An unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter may consent to shelter and supportive services if the service provider reasonably believes that: (1) the unaccompanied minor understands the significant benefits, responsibilities, risks, and limits of the shelter and service and can communicate an informed consent; (2) the unaccompanied minor understands the requirements and rules of the shelter and services; and (3) the shelter and services are necessary to ensure the unaccompanied minor’s safety and wellbeing.

(B) An unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter who is a parent may consent to supportive services and shelter for the minor’s child.

SECTION 4.

(A) Before providing supportive services or shelter to an unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter, a service provider shall: (1) register with the Office of Children, Youth, and Families; (2) develop and implement a procedure to screen each staff member who works with minors, including through a state and national criminal history records check or a private agency background check conducted in accordance with Section 172(a)(3) of M.G.L. c 6; and (3) obtain written consent from the unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter.

(B)The written consent from the unaccompanied minor in need of services or shelter shall state the minor’s: (1) age; (2) guardianship status, if known; and (3) living situation.

(C) A service provider may not provide supportive services or shelter to a minor if the service provider has knowledge that the minor: (1) knowingly provided false information in the written consent required under subsection (A) of this section; or (2) does not meet the definition of an unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter under Section 2.

SECTION 5.

(A) After providing supportive services or shelter to an unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter, a service provider shall: (1) as soon as possible and within 72 hours, contact a parent, guardian, or an adult relative of the minor; or (2) if the service provider suspects abuse or neglect by the parent, guardian, or adult relative of the minor, immediately notify the appropriate authorities of the suspected abuse or neglect in accordance with  MGL c.119 sec 51A.

(B) The youth’s parent or legal guardian must have consented to the youth living independently, but consent can be implied by the simple act of forcing the youth out of the home, refusing to provide financial support to the youth, or abuse or neglect. Consent also can be demonstrated by a letter from a homeless service provider or school district homeless liaison.

(C) (1) If a service provider is unable to contact, and does not suspect abuse by, a parent, guardian, or an adult relative of an unaccompanied minor in need of supportive services or shelter, the service provider shall: (i) notify the minor of the requirements of this section; and (ii) after providing the notice required under item (i) of this paragraph, contact the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children to determine if the minor has been reported missing by a parent or legal guardian. (2) If a service provider receives information indicating that an unaccompanied minor in need of services or shelter is missing from foster care, the service provider shall contact the Department of Children and Families. (3) If a service provider receives information indicating that an unaccompanied minor in need of services or shelter has been reported missing by a parent or legal guardian other than the Department of Children and Families, the service provider shall contact local law enforcement.

(D) A service provider shall document efforts and communications made under subsection (C) of this Section.

SECTION 6.

A service provider that provides supportive services or shelter to an unaccompanied minor in need of services or shelter in accordance with this Section is not civilly or criminally liable based solely on the provider’s reasonable determination to provide the shelter and supportive services.

SECTION 7.

The Office of Children, Youth, and Families shall establish and maintain a registry of all service providers that register under Section four of this section to provide supportive services and shelter to unaccompanied minors in need of supportive shelter or services.

SECTION 8.

(A) The Office of Children, Youth, and Families shall adopt regulations to carry out this Section.