Section 106 Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission

There shall be a special legislative Early Education and Care Economic Review commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to review how childcare programming is funded in the commonwealth and to make recommendations for potential legislative changes in funding and related policies as the commission deems appropriate.

In conducting its review, the commission shall seek to determine the early educational programs and services necessary to achieve the commonwealth's goal of expanding access to high quality early education and care programming, which is necessary for supporting children, working families and the commonwealth's continued economic prosperity.

To assist the commission in carrying out its review, the secretary of housing and economic development and the commissioner of early education and care each shall provide to the commission any data and information the commission considers relevant to its charge.

The commission shall include the following members: the chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies, who shall serve as co-vice-chairs; the secretary of education, or a designee; the secretary of housing and economic development, or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care, or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives, or a house member designee; the president of the senate, or a senate member designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives, or a house member designee; the minority leader of the senate, or a senate member designee; a private-pay early education and care provider who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; a representative from a Massachusetts youth organization with a proven record of supporting early education and care licensed programming for high numbers of vulnerable children and youth, who shall be appointed by the senate president; a Massachusetts employer or business leader outside the field of early education and care who has a proven record of supporting access to high quality early education and care programs and services, who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; a Massachusetts employer or business leader outside the field of early education and care who has a proven record of supporting access to high quality early education and care programs and services, who shall be appointed by the senate president; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Early Education and Care, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc., or a designee; a representative of the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, Inc.; the executive director of the Massachusetts Head Start Association, Inc., or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, or a designee; the executive director of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Inc., or a designee; the director of Strategies for Children, Inc. or a designee; the president-elect of the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children, Inc., or a designee; and 3 members who shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be an early educator in a community serving high percentages of low-income children, 1 of whom shall be a representative of family child-care in the commonwealth and 1 of whom shall be an employer or business leader in the commonwealth with a proven record of supporting access to high quality early education and care programs and services.

In appointing members of the commission, consideration shall be given to race, gender, socioeconomic and geographic diversity that is reflective of the early education and care workforce and those it serves.

The commission shall review and report on: (i) funding streams supporting early education and care in the commonwealth; (ii) models for accessing childcare, including, but not limited to providing employee benefits that include childcare, and areas for replication; (iii) challenges to providing continued access to high quality early education and care due to the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and ways to support and stabilize the early education and care workforce; (iv) an assessment of supports provided to early education and care programs in the commonwealth during 2020, including those efforts to stabilize programs serving the commonwealth's most vulnerable children and families; (v) the economic impact COVID-19 has had on childcare providers and the economy, including the impact on parent-pay programs not supported through a state subsidy; (vi) policies and programs needed to create an early education and care system that provides increased opportunities for access to high quality early education and care programs, including, but not limited to, the provisions in chapter 15D of the General Laws; and (vii) any other relevant topic the chairs deem necessary.

The special commission shall hold no fewer than 5 public meetings and incorporate feedback from the early education and care sector, families, employers and other relevant stakeholders from across the commonwealth.

The special commission shall submit a report of its findings and any recommendations by filing its report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies, not later than March 1, 2021.