SENATE DOCKET, NO. 990        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 244

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kenneth J. Donnelly

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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.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 990        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 244

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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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 of education or the commissioner’s designee; the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner’s 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, including, 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.