SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2029        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 707

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Rodrigues

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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 bill:

An Act relative to college tuition and fees.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2029        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 707

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to college tuition and fees.

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. Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2015 is hereby amended by striking out section 36 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 36. Section 9 of said chapter 15A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 75 to 79, inclusive, the words “In the case of the university, the council shall review the recommendations of the board of trustees relative to tuition rates at said university and its campuses.  Said tuition rates shall be subject to the approval of the council” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 

Tuition rates shall be adjusted annually commencing each July 1 by the growth of the annualized percentage rate and shall be subject to the approval of the council; provided, however, that tuition rates at the University of Massachusetts shall be subject to section 1B of chapter 75 and shall not require the approval of the council. For the purposes of this section, the words “annualized percentage rate” shall mean the percentage amount equal to the percentage increase or decrease, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the Boston metropolitan area over the preceding 12 months, as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.

SECTION 2. Section 9 of Chapter 15A of the general laws, as most recently amended by  Section 36 of chapter 46 of the acts of 2015, is hereby amended by striking out the following words:- “Said guidelines shall be based upon a study of tuition and fees which shall be conducted by the council, and which shall be authorized by statute; provided, that fees as defined by said guidelines, shall not exceed twenty-five percent of total student charges for the state colleges and the community colleges” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 

Said guidelines shall be based upon a study of tuition and fees which shall be conducted by the council, and which shall be authorized by statute; provided, however, that fees as defined by said guidelines shall be adjusted annually commencing each July 1 by the growth of the annualized percentage rate. For the purposes of this section, the words “annualized percentage rate” shall mean the percentage amount equal to the percentage increase or decrease, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the Boston metropolitan area over the preceding 12 months, as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.

SECTION 3. Section 1B of chapter 75 of the general laws, as most recently amended by  Section 73 of chapter 46 of the acts of 2015, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

“(b) The board of trustees shall fix and establish student charges for the university. In-state tuition and mandatory student charges shall preserve affordability for residents of the commonwealth. Out-of-state student charges shall appropriately balance the financial needs of the university with the need to be competitive with peer institutions and, to the extent possible, cover, at a minimum, the actual cost of a student's education. Tuition shall comprise the majority portion of student charges. In establishing student charges, the board of trustees shall consider factors including: (i) the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States Department of Labor; (ii) the Higher Education Price Index calculated by Commonfund; (iii) tuition and fee rates at peer institutions; (iv) collective bargaining costs; (v) total support from the commonwealth, including direct appropriations and support for capital construction and maintenance; and (vi) other relevant data and measures. The board shall adjust annually commencing each July 1 in-state student charges by the growth of the annualized percentage rate. For the purposes of this section, the words “annualized percentage rate” shall mean the percentage amount equal to the percentage increase or decrease, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the Boston metropolitan area over the preceding 12 months, as published by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor.