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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities 191st (2019 - 2020)

Senate Contact

24 Beacon St. 
Room 111
Boston, MA 02133

House Contact

24 Beacon St. 
Room 146
Boston, MA 02133
Date Time Topic Location Status Bills
3/5/2019 11:30 AM Hearing on bills to "Lift the Cap on Kids" and to ban abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors. A-2 Completed
3/5/2019 2:45 PM Executive Session on bills to "Lift the Cap on Kids" and to ban abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors. A-2 Canceled
3/5/2019 3:00 PM Bills on Lifting the Cap on Kids and Banning Conversion Therapy A-2 Completed
3/26/2019 10:00 AM Hearing on bills regarding a ban on child marriage, foster parents bill of rights, and mandated reporter reform. A-2 Completed
4/30/2019 10:00 AM DDS and Disabilities A-2 Completed
5/28/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, Children and Families and Human Service Workers. B-1 Completed
6/11/2019 10:00 AM Children and Families B-1 Completed
6/25/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to DDS and Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. B-1 Completed
7/16/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to DTA, children and families, homelessness, two generational approaches and the cliff effect. B-1 Completed
7/23/2019 10:00 AM DCF B-1 Completed
9/10/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to the Department of Children and Families. B-1 Completed
9/24/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to the Department of Developmental Services B-1 Completed
10/7/2019 3:00 PM Relative to DCF Legislative Reporting Reform A-2 Completed
10/22/2019 10:30 AM WorkAbility Subcommittee Hearing The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities has designated a subcommittee to further study the critical issue of workforce development for persons with disabilities. The WorkAbility subcommittee is focused on identifying solutions to promote opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate and succeed in the workforce. We want to make sure all voices are heard so we have scheduled a public hearing to be held Tuesday, October 22 at the State House. This hearing is designed to encourage individuals with disabilities to share their own personal stories and experiences in the workforce. What are the challenges they have faced? The successes? The hardships? How can Massachusetts do even better to remove potential barriers or create incentives? These are the stories we would like to hear. To better accommodate the number of expected attendees and to avoid anyone having to sit and wait for an extended period of time, we will be scheduling testimony in half-hour blocks. We do ask that everyone confine their remarks to no longer than 3-5 minutes each. Additional testimony is welcome in writing or other recorded form. Assistive listening technology will be available. The hearing room is accessible through the Ashburton entrance of the State House without the need for any elevator or stairs. Assistive listening technology will be available and we will have a real time closed captioning system (CART) in use. A sign language interpreter has also been requested. Our WorkAbility subcommittee will take in all the testimony and use it to help inform our review of state policy on disability workforce development. We expect to issue a formal report later this term with concrete recommendations and action items. Hearing from as many individuals as possible is paramount and will greatly aid us in our work. If you would like to testify we kindly ask that you RSVP in advance so we can accommodate everyone. Please call Rep. Cutler’s staff director Cole Angley at 617-722-2810 or email cole.angley@mahouse.gov. B-1 Completed
10/29/2019 10:00 AM Bills related to a variety of topics including but not limited to funeral expenses, climate change refugees, and foster care. B-1 Completed
11/19/2019 10:00 AM DTA B-1 Completed
1/13/2020 10:30 AM Late File Bills and Recently Received Bills B-1 Completed
2/25/2020 3:00 PM Late Received Bills B-1 Completed
4/13/2020 1:30 PM Relative to short-term relief for families in deep poverty in the wake of COVID-19. Please sign up to testify at the Zoom hearing or submit written testimony here: https://forms.gle/UYnUtaifj4m59GQs5 Virtual Hearing Completed
6/5/2020 3:00 PM The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities will hold a virtual hearing on H.4732, An Act establishing a COVID-19 Local Food Access Emergency Fund. If you wish to sign up to testify and/or submit testimony please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/7AbxrgEoJbkoVzBK9 To be guaranteed a spot to testify please sign up by 1:00 PM on June 5 so that staff has enough time to reach out prior to the start of the hearing. The Hearing will be streamed lived on the Legislature's website. Virtual Hearing Canceled
6/18/2020 3:30 PM The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities will hold a virtual hearing on H.4732, An Act establishing a COVID-19 Local Food Access Emergency Fund. If you wish to sign up to testify and/or submit testimony please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/7AbxrgEoJbkoVzBK9 To be guaranteed a spot to testify please sign up by Tuesday June 16 at 3:30pm so that staff has enough time to reach out prior to the start of the hearing. The Hearing will be streamed lived on the Legislature's website. Virtual Hearing Completed