SECTION 1. Subsection (i) of section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “state colleges and the community colleges” in line 90, the following words:-

Annual tuition and fee changes at state colleges and community colleges may not increase at a rate greater than the year’s rate of inflation plus one additional percent, unless an institution of higher education is making expansions to their campus or filing for bankruptcy, in which it may increase tuition and fees at a rate equal to the year’s rate of inflation plus an additional four percent.

SECTION 2. Subsection (b) of section 1B of chapter 75 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof, the following words:- ;provided, however, that any increases in student charges abide by the provisions set forth in subsection (i) of section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws.

SECTION 3. This act shall go into effect at the start of the 2018-2019 academic year.

SECTION 4. At the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year, a task force shall be established to study the effects of this act and make recommendations on the capped rate of tuition and fee increases for institutions for public higher education in the commonwealth. The task force shall file its recommendations, if any, with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than the end of the following academic year.