Massachusetts has significant achievement gaps in 4th grade reading. If the government supports after-school programs, then low-income students will have greater access. This report investigates the government's current funding for after school programs.

The ordinance requires the City to annually disclose energy and water use in all its facilities for the previous calendar year. All large and medium buildings or groups of buildings are required to report annual energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions through Energy Star Portfolio Manager or an equivalent mechanism. The requirement would first apply to non-residential buildings 50,000 square feet and up in 2014 for the 2013 calendar year, and then to residential buildings 50,000 square feet and up, in 2015, non-residential buildings 35,000 square feet and up in 2016, and residential buildings 35,000 square feet and up in 2017. The City would make energy and water use per square foot, Energy Star ratings, greenhouse gas emissions, and other identifying and contextual information for individual buildings available on the Internet. Buildings not demonstrating high energy performance, continual improvements or other appropriate exemption criteria would be required to conduct energy assessments or actions every 5 years to identify opportunities for energy efficiency investment. Building owners would not be required to act on their energy assessments. Failure to comply with reporting requirements will result in fines for building owners. The development of regulations and implementation of the ordinance are overseen by the Air Pollution Control Commission.

This ordinance: requires a permit for any development that results in a net increase of 10 or more dwelling units and the grant of a Special Permit from the Board of Appeals or other designated Special Permit Granting Authority for such a development; requires that any developer using a Special Permit include at least 10 percent affordable housing units in a division of land or multiple unit development; authorizes a FAR bonus, with a requirement that 50% of the units developed under the density bonus be affordable units, and a density bonus of two market rate units for each affordable unit provided; requires that all affordable units be situated within the main development so as to not be less desirable than the rest of the units and that all affordable units be compatible in design, appearance, construction, and quality of materials with other units; allows for payment of certain fees in lieu of affordable unit inclusion; requires certain financial disclosures for potential purchasers of affordable units; and places limitation of resale of affordable units.

Current occupancy tax rules does not fit with new types of short-term rentals. To keep a balance between hotels and short-term rentals, the senate bill would extend the room occupancy tax to short-term residential rentals.

The state requires schools to use Direct certification to links school enrollment score with TAFDC and SNAP. This program helps protect students' health and provides an effective way to count low-income students. The report lists several problems of this system and possible solutions.

The report investigates the state of MA's healthcare reforms. Health reforms in the state has leds to increases in health insurance coverage rates and health outcomes.

This report focuses on how state budgets can help kids with family support, services for families, family resource centers, DCF caseworkers ,DCF training, Child advocate, schools, and Children's behavioral health initiative.

This report focuses on how state budgets can help kids with family support, services for families, family resource centers, DCF caseworkers ,DCF training, Child advocate, schools, and Children's behavioral health initiative.

A large portion of children of Massachusetts received a developmental screen, which is far ahead of other states in the U.S. However, to further protect children's mental health, the state should provide support for pediatricians, understand the importance of mothers, and make connection between health care and families.

Health insurance coverage for people in Massachusetts is far ahead of other states, but the progress is moving slowly with remaining barriers.