HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4389

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 15, 2024.

The committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 147) of Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to childcare assistance to homeless families, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4389) ought to pass [Representatives Berthiaume of Spencer and Sullivan-Almeida of Abington dissent].

For the committee,

JAY D. LIVINGSTONE.

        FILED ON: 2/7/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4389

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 child care 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 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:- 

Section 19. (a) A family placed in temporary emergency assistance shelter 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 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 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 or until the day before the child’s third birthday, whichever occurs first.

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.