Bill > H155

This bill aims to assure the quality of foster care in Massachusetts by making foster parents public employees, with certain collective bargaining rights. The bill grants foster parents the status of "public employees" solely for the purposes of Chapter 150E, which governs public sector labor relations, and provides them with the ability to form a bargaining unit and collectively negotiate with the Department of Children and Families on issues such as responsibilities, training, payment rates, and access to support services. The bill also clarifies that the Department's statutory rights and responsibilities to license, monitor, and take action against foster parents' licenses are not subject to the collective bargaining process.