Amendment #42 to H4000

Survey Commission for Department of Children and Families

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Peterson of Grafton, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough and deMacedo of Plymouth move to amend the bill by inserting the following new section:-

“SECTION XX. Chapter 18B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:-

“SECTION 26.(a) A commission is hereby established to create and report on a survey of the department of children and families. The department of children and families survey commission, to be known hereinafter as “the commission,” shall be responsible for preparing and distributing a survey to clients of the department of children and families and to employees of the department, including social workers and supervisors. The department shall work with the commission to ensure that the survey is distributed appropriately and standards for client privacy are upheld.  The survey may be returned anonymously to the special commission.   The survey should be designed to assess the problems that clients face with the department. The survey should also be designed to assess the problems that department employees experience during the course of their employment with the department.  This commission shall study, review and report on the outcome of the surveys and assess the needs and resources of the department of children and families. The survey should be distributed no later than December 31, 2014.

(b) The commission shall be comprised of the following members: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; the child advocate, or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, or designees; 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; 2 persons appointed by the Massachusetts Union for Human Service Workers and Educators, and 2 members of independent children’s advocacy groups.

(c) Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the house and senate on or before April 1, 2015.”.