SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2370        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1175

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Cronin

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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 establishing a commission for social mobility and equitable workforce development.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2370        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1175

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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Resolve establishing a commission for social mobility and equitable workforce development.

Resolved, Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission established called the Career/Vocational Technical Education Opportunity Commission to conduct a comprehensive study to: (i) collect the requisite regional data to identify current and projected workforce demands to develop policy strategies which promote cooperation and innovation among public education institutions; (ii) examine any unintended consequences of Massachusetts’ education policies, to include the underrepresentation of socioeconomically disadvantaged student’s ability to access vocational-technical education, that  limits the Commonwealth’s ability to meet comprehensive workforce development needs for the mid 21st Century economy; (iii) propose targeted investment strategies to increase equitable social mobility as a goal of workforce development; (iv) develop strategies for a career-long cycle of education and career retraining programs for those entering the workforce today and ensure ESL programs are integrated into workforce development programs; and (v) any other recommendations the commission deems necessary.

The commission shall consist of 17 members: 3 members shall be appointed by the governor; 2 persons who shall be appointed by the president of the senate, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 1 person who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 2 persons who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 1 person who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators; 1 member will be a workforce specialist appointed by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and shall be a Superintendent of a K-12 school system from a Gateway municipality as defined by Section 3A of Chapter 23A of the General Laws; 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 member will be appointed by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Association; 1 member will be appointed by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education; 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, and; 1 member of the Massachusetts Association of Community College Presidents Association.

The commission shall, following the completion of the required meetings and hearings, file a report of its analysis, recommendations and any further actions necessary to advance said recommendations to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, as well as to the joint committee on education; the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies; the joint committee on racial equity, civil rights and inclusion; the joint committee on labor and workforce development and the joint committee on community development and small business. 

The commission shall convene its first meeting not later than September 1, 2021.  The commission shall submit its final report and its recommendations, including recommendations for legislation, not later than August 31, 2022.