FILED ON: 3/18/2014

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4017

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act establishing a commission to study vocational-technical schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission to study the role of vocational-technical schools, including regional vocational technical schools and agricultural schools. The commission shall consist of 13 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, or designees, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; the senate minority leader, or a designee; the house minority leader, or a designee; the secretary of education, or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; and 7 persons to be appointed by the secretary of education, 2 of whom shall be selected from a list of 4 persons nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, provided that the list includes a representative from an agricultural school; 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools; 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, provided that the list includes vocational-technical teachers; 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated by the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, provided that the list includes vocational-technical teachers; 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated  by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; and 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.

SECTION 2. The commission shall examine, report and make recommendations on topics including, but not limited to: (1) the laws governing vocational education; (2) the laws governing regional district agreements; (3) student enrollment and the admissions process for students, including out-of-district students; (4) student transportation costs; (5) capital improvements and investments, including capital instructional equipment; (6) finance structures, including vocational education tuition; (7) the affiliation of vocational technical schools to community colleges; and (8) other matters pertaining to vocational education.

SECTION 3. The first meeting of the commission shall take place within 60 days after the effective date of this act. The commission shall file a report containing its recommendations, including legislation and regulations necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the house and senate not later than 12 months following the first meeting of the commission.