Budget Amendment ID: FY2018-S3-219

EDU 219

Child and Youth Readiness Cabinet

Messrs. DiDomenico, Cyr, Eldridge and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting, after section ___, the following new section:-

"SECTION X. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION 219. There shall be a child and youth readiness cabinet to foster and coordinate efforts to enhance the level of cooperation and collaboration across the departments and agencies that serve the commonwealth's children, youth and families. The cabinet shall work to provide strategic direction for interagency policy planning, development and implementation, thereby working to advance the health, well-being and education of the commonwealth's children and youth and prepare them to be successful and contributing citizens.

The cabinet shall: (i) establish a shared vision for how best to establish a network of state services and supports for children, youth and families; (ii) identify priority areas for collaborative state action; (iii) establish baseline goals and benchmarks for assessing the extent to which agencies successfully strengthen their cooperation and collaboration in providing services to children, youth and families; (iv) direct the development and monitor the progress of targeted interagency projects determined by the cabinet; and (v) address such other topics and initiatives relating to children and youth readiness.

The cabinet shall consist of the following members or their designees: the secretary of education who shall serve as a co-chair; the secretary of health and human services, who shall serve as a co-chair; the secretary of administration and finance; the secretary of housing and economic development; the secretary of labor and workforce development; the secretary of public safety and security; the secretary of transportation; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, the child advocate; the commissioner of early education and care; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; and the commissioner of higher education. The governor may designate additional members.

The cabinet shall be managed by a director, who shall be jointly appointed by the co-chairs and shall report to them. The director shall be responsible for coordinating meetings of the cabinet and for managing the work of the cabinet.

Members of the cabinet shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The cabinet shall meet at such times and places as determined by the co-chairs; provided, however that the cabinet shall meet no less than 4 times annually.

The cabinet may establish ongoing or ad hoc committees, task forces or interagency working groups. The cabinet may request that agencies and departments within the executive branch facilitate and implement the cabinet's policy agenda and objectives. Agencies and departments shall cooperate with the cabinet and provide assistance, information and advice to the cabinet.

The cabinet shall provide an annual report of its activities, not later than March 1, to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on education, the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities and the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means."