Amendment #1442 to H4700

School Supplies Consortium Commission

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Gifford of Wareham, Barrows of Mansfield and Smola of Warren moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XXXX. Notwithstanding the provisions in section 24A of chapter 15A of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established a special commission to study and report on the school supply purchasing cooperatives and consortiums in Massachusetts, including regional and municipal collaboratives and nonprofit purchasing cooperatives among public and private colleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools; not for profit charter, technical, and vocational schools; libraries; and not for profit educational organizations. The commission shall examine the cooperative purchasing programs in the Commonwealth, including membership requirements and geographical regions served, bid procurements for office and classroom supplies, annual reports from education collaboratives as required by MGL c. 40, sec. 4E and Education Collaborative Regulations, 603 CMR 50.08, and consortia contracts with global, national, regional, and local businesses. The commission shall consist of the following members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on higher education or designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or designee; the president of the senate or designee; the house minority leader or designee; the senate minority leader or designee; the secretary of education or designee; the secretary of higher education or designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or designee; and a member from the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.

SECTION XXXX. The commission shall file its report with the chairs of the joint committee on education, the joint committee on higher education, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the house and senate clerks by January 1, 2023.”