SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1459        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 833

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Anne M. Gobi

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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 supporting urgent community college equity through student services.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1459        FILED ON: 2/17/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 833

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act supporting urgent community college equity through student services.

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 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section: -

Section XX: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to support community college student success through wraparound supports and services to improve outcomes for students through a grant program to be known as the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services program, hereinafter referred to as the SUCCESS program.

Subject to appropriation, the SUCCESS program shall provide grants to community colleges to provide wraparound supports and services to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable student populations including, but not limited to, low-income, first generation, minority, and disabled students and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students.

In conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, the department of higher education shall report to the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the success of students supported by the fund, including any regulations, guidelines, or criteria used to distribute the funds, and on the final distribution of funds to campuses; and provided further, that funds appropriated for this item shall not revert but shall be made available for this item in future fiscal years.

SECTION 2. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2CCCCC the following section: -

Section 2SSSSS. (a) There is hereby established and set up on the books of the Commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services Trust Fund, hereinafter referred to as the SUCCESS Fund, to which shall be credited any appropriations, bond proceeds or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited thereto.  Bunker Hill Community College, hereinafter referred to as the college, shall hold the SUCCESS Fund in an account or accounts separate from other funds or accounts; provided, that the SUCCESS Fund shall be administered by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. Amounts credited to the fund shall be used by the college to carry out the purposes of the fund as set forth in this section.  Any monies unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund and may be expended by the college without further appropriation.

(b) The fund shall be used for wraparound support activities including, but not be limited to, peer mentors, academic skills workshops, field trips to 4-year schools, and targeted academic, career, transfer, and scholarship advising.

(c) The funds shall be disbursed based on a formula and criteria developed by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges in coordination with the Department of Higher Education.

(d) In conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, the department of higher education shall report to the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the success of students supported by the fund, including any regulations, guidelines, or criteria used to distribute the funds, and on the final distribution of funds to campuses.