SECTION 1. Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 48.

(a) The department of higher education shall, in consultation with the Credit Transfer Program Advisory Board established under subsection (f), establish and administer a Public Higher Education Credit Transfer Program, hereinafter referred to as the credit transfer program. 

(b) The credit transfer program shall allow students of public institutions of higher education, as defined in section 5, to transfer credits among public institutions of higher education in a comprehensive, complete, accessible, and efficient manner.

(c) The credit transfer program shall be designed to ensure that students taking courses at community colleges will be able to receive credit, where appropriate, for those courses at state universities and the University of Massachusetts system, without loss of credit.

(d) The credit transfer program shall build on and extend the MassTransfer program.

(e) The credit transfer program shall require the establishment of transfer articulation agreements between public institutions of higher education, provided:

(1) The department shall oversee the creation of articulation agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions that provide pathways for students to apply course credits from community colleges that, where appropriate, satisfy degree requirements for four-year institutions.

(2) Priority shall be given to institutions in the same geographical area or which have similar programs.

(f) There shall be a Credit Transfer Program Advisory Board, which shall advise the department on the creation, implementation, and improvement of the credit transfer program. The Board shall consist of the following representatives, designated by the department:

(1) Faculty, with at least 1 from each segment of public institutions of higher education;

(2) Presidents from each segment of public institutions of higher education;

(3) Organizations that represent a public higher education segment, with at least 1 from each segment of public institution of higher education; and

(4) 2 members of the business community.

(g) The department shall maintain a website for the credit transfer program. The website shall provide a guide for students on transferring credits through the credit transfer program.

SECTION 2.

(a) Within 45 days of the effective date of this act, the department of higher education shall

(1) Establish a MassTransfer working group; and

(2) designate members of the Credit Transfer Program Advisory Board.

(b) Within 3 months of the effective date of this act, the department shall review related best practices in other states.

(c) Within 1 year of the effective date of this act: (1) all articulation agreements shall be completed and executed; and

(2) The department shall publish the website for students that shall contain, but is not limited to, a comprehensive guide for transferring credit through the credit transfer program.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.