{"AmendmentNumber":"18","ParentBillNumber":"S3178","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"JBE0","Name":"James B. Eldridge","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/JBE0","ResponseDate":"2026-07-23T15:54:45.813"},"Category":null,"Action":"Adopted","RollCall":[],"Title":"Adjunct Faculty Special Commission","Branch":"Senate","RedraftNumber":2,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Eldridge, Ms. Comerford, Messrs. Mark, Keenan, Tarr, Cronin, O'Connor, Brady and Montigny and Ms. Lovely move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 153 the following section:-  \r\n“SECTION 153A. (a) The department of higher education, in collaboration with the executive office for administration and finance, shall study and report on adjunct faculty at public institutions of higher education across the commonwealth, which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) current data and practices for utilization of adjunct faculty; (ii) compensation and benefits available to adjunct faculty members and other professional staff at such public institutions, including, but not limited to, benefits available through spouses and through other employment; (iii) best practices in employment and compensation of adjunct faculty in other states; (iv) recommendations for hiring full-time faculty and for achieving a balanced utilization of adjunct faculty; and (v) options to provide adjunct faculty members with benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance and retirement benefits that are available to other benefited public employees and projected costs for such options; provided, however, that such options shall include, but not be limited to, cost estimates, potential funding mechanisms and eligibility criteria.\r\n(b) The department shall hold not less than 3 public hearings, including but not limited to, opportunities for participation by representatives of the University of Massachusetts, state universities, community colleges, adjunct faculty, faculty unions, students and campus administrators.\r\n(c) Not later than September 1, 2028, the department shall file a report of its findings, recommendations and any proposed legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means and shall publish it on its website.\r\n"}