Amendment ID: S2387-1-R1

Redraft Amendment 1

Debt Free Public Higher Education Special Committee

Messrs. Moore, Tarr and Montigny move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ____ the following section:-

"SECTION ____. There shall be a special commission on tuition and fee-free and debt-free public higher education to consist of: the commissioner of higher education, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the president of the University of Massachusetts system or a designee; a representative selected by the council of presidents of the state university system; a representative selected by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges; the senate and house chairs of the Joint Committee on Higher Education or their designees; and 5 persons to be appointed by the commissioner of the department of higher education, 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 nominees submitted by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 nominees submitted by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 nominees submitted by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts; 1 of whom shall be from the American Student Assistance and 1 of whom shall be a student representative currently enrolled in a public higher education institution in the commonwealth. The commission shall examine and make recommendations on the creation of tuition and fee-free and debt-free college programs in the Commonwealth including, but not limited to: (i) student eligibility including possible requirements for state residency, maximum family income, academic thresholds/GPA, and enrollment status (full-time or part-time); (ii) which public institutions would be eligible, enrollment shifts that may occur, and the potential effect on academic program quality; (iii) the cost to fund the various models explored, including the ordering of state and federal aid required to be applied as “first dollar” or “last dollar”  and the cost of covering indirect costs such as books, housing, transportation or other significant matriculation costs; (iv) the potential impact of debt-free college on student debt and degree completion; and (iv) review of currently offered debt-free proposals in other states. The first meeting of the commission shall take place within 45 days after the effective date of this section. The commission shall file a report detailing its recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives on or before May 31, 2020."