An Act to assure quality foster care

This bill designates foster parents in Massachusetts as public employees for specific purposes related to collective bargaining, while explicitly excluding them from state retirement, insurance, and workers' compensation benefits. It establishes the Department of Children and Families as the employer for these bargaining purposes and prohibits foster parents from striking or engaging in work stoppages. The legislation mandates negotiations between the department and a certified employee organization on key issues such as payment rates, training opportunities, recruitment, and support services like respite care. Despite granting these bargaining rights, the bill maintains the department's authority to place or remove children and to inspect, monitor, or revoke foster parent licenses as necessary for safety and compliance.