Amendment #321 to H4100

Study on Housing Amendment

Mr. Golden of Lowell moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION  XXXX.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study and report on the length of time benefit recipients receive public assistance. The commission shall consist of the commissioner of transitional assistance, or a designee; the inspector general, or a designee; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; and a representative of the interests of benefit recipients who shall be appointed by the governor. The scope of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, researching and evaluating: (i) the length of time benefit recipients spend in subsidized housing; (ii) the reason(s) why some benefit recipients spend more than 3 years in subsidized housing; and (iii) the length of time benefit recipients receive other forms of public assistance, including unemployment benefits, daycare subsidies, food stamps, electronic benefit transfer funds, and other forms of public assistance. The commission shall research, assess and develop recommendations regarding the best method of preventing extended use of public assistance funds, including an incremental reduction of such funds commensurate with a recipient’s increased income.  The commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to implement those recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house not later than December 31, 2012.”