New Membership Announced for Senate and House Committees

February 23, 2023

KEY COMMITTEE

The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities has great influence over our legislative agenda. This committee considers all matters concerning child welfare, juvenile justice, public welfare, and children and adults with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities. It also oversees the Departments of Children and Families, Developmental Services, Transitional Assistance and Youth Services, the Massachusetts Commissions for the Blind, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. See membership list below.

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES – Most Relevant to Our Work

• Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice (new!)
• Joint Committee on Education
• Joint Committee on the Judiciary
• House and Senate Committees on Ways & Means

NEXT STEPS - Advocacy

1. Use Find My Legislator to figure out who represent your program areas
2. Reach out to the legislators covering your districts and let them know about your legislative priorities and ask them to co-sponsor priority legislation (Click here for a sample script)

LEGISLATION - Priority Legislation for CLM:

• An Act to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at-risk children HD.3742 / SD.1684(more info.)
• An Act clarifying insurance liability for foster care providers HD.1820/SD.208 (fact sheet)

See our State Advocacy website page and your most recent Task Force notes that highlight more bills from the CLM Legislative Agenda.

MEMBERSHIP - The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities 2023-2024:

• CHAIRS:
  • Sen. Robyn Kennedy (D.; 1^st Worcester)
  • Rep. Jay Livingstone (D.; 8^th Suffolk)
• VICE CHAIRS:
  • Sen. Rebecca Rauch (D.; Norfolk, Worcester, Middlesex)
  • Rep. Jessica Giannino (D.; 16^th Suffolk)
• Senate Members:
  • Lydia Edwards (D.; 3^rd Suffolk)
  • James B. Eldridge (D.; Middlesex, Worcester)
  • Paul W. Mark (D.; Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, Hampshire)
• House Members:
  • Rita A. Mendes (D.; 11^th Plymouth)
  • Michelle L. Ciccolo (D.; 15^th Middlesex)
  • Adrianne Pusateri Ramos (D.; 14^th Essex)
  • Carol A. Doherty (D.; 3^rd Bristol)
  • David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf (D.; 17^th Worcester)
  • Dawne Shand (D.; 1^st Essex)
  • Natalie M. Higgins (D.;   4^th Worcester)
  • Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. (Ranking Minority) (R.; 5^th Worcester)
  • Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida (R.; 7^th Plymouth)