H542 — An Act expanding access to family, friend, and neighbor-provided childcare

Summary

An Act expanding access to family, friend, and neighbor-provided childcare

Bill Text

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The bill establishes definitions and outlines new requirements and structures for Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (FFN Care) in child care, including compensation policies and the formation of an advisory committee.

• Section 1A of Chapter 15D

  “Family, Friend and Neighbor Care” or “FFN Care” means child care which is exempt from licensure by the department because the individual caregiver either provides care in the child’s own home or is a relative of the child, other than family child care home care.

  This adds a new definition for Family, Friend and Neighbor Care in the law.

• Section 1A of Chapter 15D

  “FFN Caregiver” means a person providing FFN Care.

  This adds a new definition for FFN Caregiver to specify who provides FFN Care.

• Section 2 of Chapter 15D

  (v) in addition to the department’s obligations under subsection (e), establish a payment structure for FFN caregivers that (1) ensures families with child care vouchers, or other available funding mechanisms, have full use of the daily value of such vouchers or other mechanisms; (2) is based on payment at an hourly rate; and (3) provides for a minimum hourly rate of compensation for FFN caregivers that is equal or greater to the minimum hourly wage required by section 1 of chapter 151.

  This mandates the department to create a payment structure for FFN caregivers with specified requirements.

• The department shall, within 60 days of the passage of this act, convene a state advisory committee on FFN Care, the members of which shall represent a reasonable geographic balance and shall reflect the diversity of the commonwealth in race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

  This establishes a new requirement for the formation of an advisory committee for FFN Care.

• Members of the advisory committee shall, at minimum, include one person from each of the following organizations, or their successor organizations, if applicable: Care That Works, Inc., New England United for Justice; Service Employees International Union Local 509; the Child Care Resource and Referral Network; and three or more FFN caregivers chosen by the commissioner.

  This specifies the composition and membership requirements for the advisory committee.

• Members of the committee shall not, by virtue of their membership, be considered state employees under chapter 268A.

  This clarifies that members of the advisory committee do not have state employee status.

• The committee shall hold at least 4 public hearings and 4 public meetings in its first year of establishment to collect information on, discuss, and consider the following with respect to FFN care:

  This establishes requirements for public engagement and discussion by the advisory committee.

• The advisory committee shall file a report with the commissioner which shall be forwarded to the clerks of the house and the senate, and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on education, with respect to the committee’s findings on the issues considered under subsection 4.

  This requires the advisory committee to produce and submit a report on its findings.

Sponsors

• Marjorie C. Decker · Primary

Subjects