Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of higher education shall ascertain the necessary steps and cost of providing debt-free public college in the commonwealth. Debt-free public college shall be defined as (i) allowing all eligible students with unmet financial need to attend public institutions of higher education without taking on loan burdens after all sources of grant aid and expected family contribution have been applied; and (ii) meeting the basic need expenses including, but not limited to, housing, food, child care, transportation and health care, of eligible low-income students to enable them to take full advantage of tuition and fee-free college access opportunities.

The department shall issue a report of its findings, including, but not limited to: (i) a definition of eligible students; (ii) a method of determining the total annual cost of debt-free college for eligible students at public institutions of higher education in the commonwealth, which may include conducting a survey of current or prospective students; (iii) a numerical calculation of the total cost of debt-free college for eligible students at public institutions of higher education in the commonwealth for not less than each of the next 3 years using current and estimated enrollment trends and the total annual projected cost to the commonwealth; (iv) an analysis of which student populations would most benefit from debt-free higher education; and (vi) recommendations for funding and implementing debt-free higher education, accounting for federal policy changes and state requirements, and including any statutory or budgetary changes needed to achieve said recommendations. As part of their work, the department shall consider best practices from municipalities, states and countries which provide debt-free or similar public college programs. The department may enter into a contract with a third-party for the purposes of investigating and completing said report.

The department of higher education shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the house and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on higher education not later than one year following enactment of this act.