This bill would address the lack of access to safe swimming that many communities across the state face, especially those with higher rates of poverty and lower median household incomes.

This bill would amend the School Building Grant Program Regulations to provide for reimbursement for the construction or renovation of a swimming pool at a school if the construction occurred in a municipality with: a population greater than 35,000 and less than 250,000, a median income below the state’s average, and a rate of educational attainment of a bachelor’s degree or above that is below the state’s average.

This legislation would allow foster care providers to form a union by making them state employees under the Department of Children and Families only for the purposes of collecting bargaining.

Foster care providers across the state are providing tremendous support for vulnerable children, in many cases without the financial, emotional, and logistical support they themselves need. With a stronger foster care system and better support for providers, it will enable more children to thrive.

Allowing foster care providers to form a union would allow also allow them to advocate for more state funding for supports like respite care and specialized training, push to pass key legislation, and increase recruitment and retention of qualified foster parents to help our system serve more children in need.

This legislation would in no way impact or modify DCF rights to place or remove a child or foster parents’ rights under the Grievance and Fair Hearing Procedures.

DCF would maintain all rights to license foster parents and approve foster homes and collective bargaining shall not apply to DCF licensing responsibilities.

This bill eliminates the $40 administrative bail fee imposed on justice-involved youth. Instead, subject to appropriation to the bail magistrate fee would be paid by the state Bail Administrator’s office. The bill also requires the Bail Magistrate, rather than the Officer on call at a police station, to make the decision about whether an arrested youth should be released or held on bail. These changes were both recommended in 2019 by the state Juvenile Justice Policy and Data (JJPAD) Board.

This legislative bill proposes amendments to Chapter 18C of the General Laws to create a comprehensive framework for reviewing child fatalities and near fatalities in Massachusetts. It establishes a state child fatality review team within the Office of the Child Advocate, composed of government officials and medical professionals dedicated to reducing preventable child deaths. The team's responsibilities include identifying the causes of such incidents, recommending legislative, policy, and practice changes, and setting up protocols for effective data collection and analysis. Additionally, the team will provide training and disseminate information, alongside submitting annual reports to state authorities. The bill also mandates the formation of local child fatality review teams in each district, led by the district attorney with representation from pertinent local agencies. These local teams will review incidents based on state protocols, promote inter-agency collaboration, and suggest legal or procedural adaptations to prevent future occurrences. It includes guidelines for accessing and protecting confidential data, ensuring sensitive information is shared only as needed. Furthermore, it repeals Section 2A of Chapter 38 and revises it to compel the office to swiftly notify the state team about child deaths, complete with circumstantial and causation details, thus enabling prompt and thorough review actions. 

This legislation establishes a new Disproportionate Share Childcare Provider Fund to provide supplemental funding to certain eligible provider agencies that care for a disproportionate number of high-risk children.

An eligible provider agency that could benefit from the Disproportionate Share Childcare Provider Fund would be required to be an agency that offers center-based family and after school early education and care programs with a licensed capacity of over 150 children; and, have at least 95% of their capacity serving children whose families live at or below the federal poverty level; and, not be a provider of HeadStart of eligible for funding as a Community Anti-Poverty Agency; and, receive not less than 90% of agency early education and care revenue from the Department of Early Education and care; and, operate in a designated “gateway municipality.”

The bill proposes the creation and management of community fridges throughout Massachusetts as a measure to combat food insecurity. A "community fridge" is defined as a publicly accessible refrigerator where individuals and organizations can donate or obtain food. Each fridge will have a dedicated manager responsible for maintaining cleanliness in compliance with guidelines from the Department of Public Health. The placement of these fridges will be prioritized in areas with high levels of food insecurity or, if such data is unavailable, in low-income areas. The bill also ensures the equitable distribution of community fridges across various geographic regions within the Commonwealth. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to address the liability of food establishments that provide food for free or at a nominal cost. As long as the food provided is neither misbranded nor adulterated and complies with public health standards, these establishments will not be held civilly liable for any injuries resulting from the food, except in cases of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct by the establishment or its employees.