Bill Text: MA H199 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced

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Bill Title: An investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to creating and expanding access to opportunity in low-opportunity communities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-11-02 - Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the House Committee On Ways and Means [H199 Detail]

Download: Massachusetts-2009-H199-Introduced.html

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jay R. Kaufman

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

RESOLVE providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to creating and expanding access to opportunity in low-opportunity communities.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:	District/Address:
Jay R. Kaufman	15th Middlesex
Denise Provost	27th Middlesex
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera	10th Hampden
Anne M. Gobi	5th Worcester
Geraldo Alicea	6th Worcester
Mark V. Falzone	9th Essex
Alice K. Wolf	25th Middlesex
Willie Mae Allen	6th Suffolk
Kay Khan	11th Middlesex
Gloria L. Fox	7th Suffolk
James B. Eldridge	Middlesex and Worcester

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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RESOLVE

Resolved,

 That a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of investigating, devising and recommending statewide strategies to create and expand opportunity in low-opportunity communities.  The commission shall consist of 3 members of the senate, two of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and one to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 3 members of the house of representatives, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker and one of whom to be appointed by the house minority leader; the assistant secretary for access and opportunity; the secretary for health and human services or her designee; the undersecretary of the department of housing and community development or her designee; the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance or her designee; the secretary of labor and workforce development or her designee; the secretary of education or his designee; 2 mayors, town managers or chairs of boards of selectmen or their designees nominated by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 2 directors of community action agencies or their designees as nominated by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action; 2 directors of community development corporations or their designees as nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations; and 4 persons to be appointed by the governor, three of whom shall be representatives from academic institutions, and a member whom shall be from an organization providing legal services to low-income people.  The governor shall designate a member of the commission to serve as one co-chairperson and the members of the commission shall elect a member of the commission to serve as one co-chairperson.

 

The commission shall develop a comprehensive strategy to create, foster and expand opportunity in low-opportunity communities, including a consensus budget proposal, capable of being implemented over a 5 year period, with a focus on the collaboration of the department of housing and community development, the executive office of health and human services, the executive office of education and other state agencies, departments, and quasi-public entities in the planning and distribution of resources that will create coordinated efforts to expand opportunity, reduce the incidence of poverty, develop jobs and economic opportunities, transportation, and provide other appropriate services.

 

The commission shall file its strategic plan, including a timeline for implementation, cost estimates and finance mechanisms and its recommendations, and its budget proposals together with drafts of legislation and regulations, if any, necessary to carry out its recommendations with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on children and families, the joint committee on housing, the joint committee on education, the joint committee on community development and small business, and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than June 30, 2009.