Bill > H136

This bill establishes a "Special Commission on Two-Generation Approaches" to study and recommend ways to implement programs in Massachusetts that support both young parents, specifically those aged 16-24, and their children together, addressing their needs and creating opportunities simultaneously. The commission will be comprised of various officials, including the Secretary of Education, the Commissioner of Early Education and Care, legislative committee chairs focused on education and children's issues, and appointees by the governor representing community organizations, research institutions, and groups interested in two-generation strategies. Its duties include gathering input, identifying best practices from other states, developing plans for school and employment readiness for low-income families by combining early childhood education with workforce training and support services, recommending how to best use existing state resources to fund these approaches, and proposing ways to measure progress and identify sustainable funding sources. The commission must be formed within 60 days of the bill's enactment and report its findings and any necessary draft legislation to the state legislature within 365 days.