Section 4. There shall be a 25–member child advocate advisory council. The advisory council shall consist of the child advocate, who shall serve as chair, the secretary of health and human services, the secretary of public safety and security, the secretary of education, the commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services, the undersecretary of criminal justice from the executive office of public safety and security, the commissioner of early education and care, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of developmental services, the commissioner of public health, the commissioner of children and families, the commissioner for the deaf and hard of hearing, the commissioner for the blind, the commissioner of transitional assistance, the commissioner of youth services, the deputy commissioner of the child support enforcement division within the department of revenue, the president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, the commissioner of probation, the chief counsel of the committee for public counsel services, the chief justice of the superior court department, the chief justice of the juvenile court department, the chief justice of the probate and family court department, the executive director of the child abuse prevention board, and 3 persons appointed by the governor.
The child advocate shall meet with the advisory council at least annually and shall present to the advisory council the annual goals of the office and its plans for monitoring the work, including the continuing quality improvement, of the child service agencies and the identification of any critical gaps and issues relating to interagency collaboration. The child advocate may consult with or request the assistance of members of the advisory council with respect to the duties and responsibilities of the office; provided however, that any request for assistance shall not place requirements on any member of the council to fulfill the request.
The advisory council shall annually set the salary of the child advocate; provided, however, that such salary shall not exceed 90 per cent of the salary of the chief justice of the supreme judicial court.