SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1946        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 823

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

_________________

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 debt-free public higher education.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1946        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 823

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 829 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to debt-free public higher education.

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. Section 1 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “opportunities”, in line 14, the following words:-

It is hereby further declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to guarantee free public higher education as a right for all residents.

SECTION 2. Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 45 the following section:-

Section 46. (a) Definitions

As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Board”, the Board of Higher Education.

“Eligible Student”, any person admitted to Massachusetts public college or university or other public certificate, vocational, or adult education program, enrolled full-time or part-time, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph 15 of subsection (a)(A) through (S) of 8 U.S.C., section 1101 of the federal act, who has attended a high school in the commonwealth for 3 or more years and has graduated from a high school in the commonwealth or attained the equivalent thereof from an adult basic education program in the commonwealth, or is currently a student in a Massachusetts public higher education institution qualifying for in-state tuition under federal regulations, shall be eligible at any state institution of higher education in the commonwealth. The Legislature finds that this is a state law within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1621(d).

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the board shall create a grant program to pay the equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees to an eligible student at any Massachusetts public college or university, or certificate, vocational or training program at a public institution. Students meeting the income eligibility for Federal Pell Grants shall receive additional aid in grants to pay for the additional costs of attendance as calculated by the academic institution of enrollment, including, but not limited to, room and board, books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.

(c) The grant shall supplement and shall not replace state grants, gift aid, institutional aid, or federal aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process. The board shall promulgate regulations to ensure funds from this program do not affect eligibility for other state grants, gift aid, institutional aid, or federal aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process.

(d) All public higher education and public vocational training institutions shall be considered eligible institutions for this program and there shall be no restrictions on a student’s choice of academic programs.

(e) The board shall provide an annual notice of eligibility for this program to all eligible students and all new graduates from a Massachusetts high school or GED program. The board shall maintain a database of all students currently or potentially eligible for this program.