HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 414        FILED ON: 1/12/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 280

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jay R. Kaufman

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve to promote better citizenship, civics education and civic engagement.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

1/12/2017

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/2/2017

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

1/24/2017

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/13/2017

Solomon Goldstein-Rose

3rd Hampshire

1/25/2017

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

2/2/2017

Robert M. Koczera

11th Bristol

1/20/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/25/2017

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/3/2017

Brian Murray

10th Worcester

2/2/2017

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/30/2017

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/3/2017

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

1/20/2017

Aaron Vega

5th Hampden

1/26/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

2/2/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 414        FILED ON: 1/12/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 280

By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 280) of Jay R. Kaufman and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) to develop a proposal for the establishment of a program of civics education and public service for the youth of the Commonwealth.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

Resolve to promote better citizenship, civics education and civic engagement.

 

Resolved, That there shall be a commission to develop a proposal for the establishment of a program of civics education and public service for the youth of Massachusetts. The commission shall consist of the following members: 4 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the senate president or the senate president’s  designee, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of higher education or the chair’s  designee, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of education or the chair’s designee, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 4 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the speaker of the house or the speaker’s  designee, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of higher education or the chair’s  designee, 1 of whom shall be the house chair of education or the chair’s  designee, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; the secretary of education or the secretary’s  designee; the commissioner or education or his designee, the commissioner of higher education or his designee, and 4 members appointed by the governor who shall have demonstrated experience in and commitment to public service and civic education.

The commission shall investigate and study communities, states or nations that have public service requirements for youth, and organizations that promote service in the United States and the Commonwealth, such as but not limited to AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. The study shall consider these questions: when and how in their schooling shall students be exposed to civics education and expected to engage in public service; how and what agency shall administer the program; how will the program be funded; how will quality of programming be maintained; what incentives or rewards should be in place for participation and success; if the service participation should be mandatory; and other questions that the commission members deem fitting.

The commission shall report its findings, including any proposed legislation, to the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means, the senate and house clerks, the joint committee on education, the joint committee on higher education, the executive office of education, and the office of the governor no later than January 1, 2019.