State task force would study ways to improve affordability

The proposal would create a task force to study ways to improve affordability statewide. The study would cover children, families, and young professionals, including assistance, education, job training, child care, housing, transportation, health care, and economic mobility. The task force would examine existing programs, barriers, regional cost differences, inflation, program gaps, possible short-term actions, long-term reforms, funding sources, and agency cooperation. Membership would include listed state commissioners or their designees, legislative committee leaders or designees, and up to ten additional members with relevant expertise or community experience. The section would take effect from passage. Initial appointments would be due within 30 days after that effective date.

Task force leaders would submit two reports and hold a public forum to present the first report and receive public comments. The reports would go to the legislative committees responsible for children, human services, and state agency budgets. The forum would be open to public comment. The task force's legislative administrative staff would provide support. The task force would end when the final report is submitted or on June 1, 2028, whichever is later. The first report would be due by June 1, 2027. The public forum would occur by July 1, 2027. The final report would be due by June 1, 2028.