SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3239
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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SENATE, August 10, 2026.
The committee on Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 341) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to expand access to family, friend, and neighbor-provided childcare administered by the Department of Early Education and Care, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 3239).
For the committee,
Jason M. Lewis
FILED ON: 7/30/2026
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3239
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special legislative commission to study and examine Family, Friend, and Neighbor-Provided Childcare in the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
There shall be a special legislative Family, Friends, and Neighbor (FFN) Care commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to review how FFN care may be formalized and regulated in the commonwealth and to make recommendations for potential legislative changes in funding and related policies as the commission deems appropriate.
In conducting its review, the special commission shall seek to determine the policies and resources necessary to achieve the commonwealth’s goal of expanding access to FFN care, which is necessary for supporting children, working families and the commonwealth’s continued economic prosperity.
To assist the special commission in carrying out its review, the commissioner of early education and care each shall provide to the commission any data and information the commission considers relevant to its charge.
The special commission shall include the following members: the chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of education, or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care, or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives, or a designee; the president of the senate, or a designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives, or a designee; the minority leader of the senate, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Head Start Association, or a designee; the director of Strategies for Children, Inc. or a designee; a representative from the Early Care and Education Consortium; the executive director of the Community Labor United Care That Works Coalition, or a designee; the president of SEIU Local 509, or a designee; the president of New England United For Justice, or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts Child Care Resource and Referral Network; three Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, including at least one Family Child Care educator at least one center-based program director, and at least one family child care system representative, to be chosen by the Commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care; and the president of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children, or a designee.
In appointing members of the special commission, consideration shall be given to race, gender, socioeconomic and geographic diversity that is reflective of the early education and care workforce and those it serves.
The special commission shall review and report on: (i) funding streams supporting FFN care in the commonwealth; (ii) staffing needs in the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) required to engage with FFN providers regularly; (iii) how FFN care fits into the overall early education and care system in the commonwealth; (iv) a statewide needs assessment to better understand the needs of FFN providers; (v) the standardization of the application and orientation process across the state for FFN providers to participate in Child Care Financial Assistance; (vi) increasing consumer education via the EEC website and other outreach efforts so more families are aware of FFN as an option; (vii) the reimbursement rate level and structure for FFN providers including consideration of other state strategies and other types of providers in the commonwealth; and (viii) any other factor relevant FFN care.
The special commission shall hold no fewer than 5 public meetings and incorporate feedback from the early education and care sector, families, employers and other relevant stakeholders from across the commonwealth.
The special commission shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations by filing its report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education, not later than December 31, 2027.