SECTION 1.  Section 19 of Chapter 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The board of higher education, subject to appropriation, shall establish a public librarian incentive program, for the purpose of providing grants to public librarians presently working in a public library in the Commonwealth, who are planning to attend, or attending, an institution of higher education within the Commonwealth, or partner institutions under New England Board of Higher Education's Regional Student Program, to earn a Master of Library Science degree. Said board of higher education shall establish rules and regulations for the program, including the levels of academic, leadership, extracurricular, and other achievement needed to qualify for the grants. Based upon such rules and regulations, the board of higher education shall award a grant equal to full tuition to public librarians who apply from each public library and who qualify for the Master of Library Science assistance program.