Amendment #1226 to H4200

Commission on Child Welfare and Safety

Representatives O'Connell of Taunton, Vega of Holyoke, DeCoste of Norwell, Gordon of Bedford, Lombardo of Billerica and Lyons of Andover move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XXXX. There shall be a commission established to study the child welfare system in the commonwealth.  The commission shall study and investigate, but not be limited to, (1) child protection failures, causes and solutions; (2) defining the best interest of the child; (3) barriers to child welfare and safety; (4) collaboration and communication between various agencies, departments, and the judicial system relating to child welfare; (5) oversight and accountability; (6) funding; (7) prevention programs; (8) family support programs; (9) foster care system; (10) DCF policies and staff training; (11) and technology.

The commission shall consist of the following members: eight persons to be appointed by the governor,  one who shall serve as the chair, one who shall serve as co-chair, two of whom shall be current foster parents, two of whom shall be adoptive foster parents, and two former foster children; one member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; one member of the senate to be appointed by the senate minority leader; one member of the house to be appointed by the speaker; one member of the house to be appointed by the minority leader; the commissioner of DCF, or appointed representative; the Office of the Child Advocate; a representative of SEIU Local 509; the Court Administrator, or appointed representative; the Commissioner of Probation, or appointed representative; a representative of the Children’s Welfare League of Massachusetts; a representative of Friends of Children; Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators’ Association; Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association; a representative of the Sex Offender Registry Board; a representative of the State Police; a representative of CASA; and a representative of the Children’s Trust Fund.

The commission shall convene no later than four weeks after the passage of this act.  The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations with the clerks of the house and senate by April 1, 2017.

Appointments – 23 members:

1.     seven persons to be appointed by the governor,  one who shall serve as the chair, two of whom shall be current foster parents, two of whom shall be adoptive foster parents, and two former foster children; one member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president;

2.     one member of the senate to be appointed by the senate minority leader;

3.     one member of the house to be appointed by the speaker;

4.     one member of the house to be appointed by the minority leader;

5.     the commissioner of DCF, or appointed representative;

6.     the Office of the Child Advocate;

7.     a representative of SEIU Local 509;

8.     the Court Administrator, or appointed representative;

9.     the Commissioner of Probation, or appointed representative;

10.     a representative of the Children’s Welfare League of Massachusetts;

11.     a representative of Friends of Children;

12.     Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators’ Association;

13.     Massachusetts Elementary School Principals Association;

14.     a representative of the Sex Offender Registry Board;

15.     a representative of the State Police;

16.     and the Children’s Trust Fund"