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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 485 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 538
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Frank A. Moran and Adam Scanlon
_________________
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 to Improve access, opportunity, and capacity in Massachusetts vocational-technical
education.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Frank A. Moran17th Essex1/13/2023Adam Scanlon14th Bristol1/13/2023Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/24/2023William M. Straus10th Bristol1/25/2023Michelle L. Ciccolo15th Middlesex1/25/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/25/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/27/2023David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/27/2023Kay Khan11th Middlesex1/27/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/27/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/31/2023Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol1/31/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/1/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/1/2023John Barrett, III1st Berkshire2/1/2023Tackey Chan2nd Norfolk2/2/2023 2 of 2
Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/2/2023Antonio F. D. Cabral13th Bristol2/2/2023Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex2/2/2023Daniel M. Donahue16th Worcester2/6/2023Alan Silvia7th Bristol2/6/2023Todd M. Smola1st Hampden2/6/2023James J. O'Day14th Worcester2/6/2023Jon Santiago9th Suffolk2/6/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023Patricia A. Duffy5th Hampden2/8/2023Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin2/8/2023Estela A. Reyes4th Essex2/8/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/8/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/9/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester2/9/2023Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/9/2023Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex2/9/2023Patricia A. Haddad5th Bristol2/9/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/10/2023F. Jay Barrows1st Bristol2/10/2023Kate Donaghue19th Worcester2/14/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/15/2023Kip A. Diggs2nd Barnstable2/17/2023Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth2/21/2023Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable2/21/2023Carlos González10th Hampden2/21/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex2/22/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/22/2023Shirley B. Arriaga8th Hampden2/23/2023Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/27/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk3/1/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/2/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/6/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester3/6/2023 1 of 9
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 485 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 538
By Representatives Moran of Lawrence and Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 538) of Frank A. Moran, Adam Scanlon and others for
legislation to provide for a program of capital investments for vocational-technical education
programs and regional vocational-technical schools. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to Improve access, opportunity, and capacity in Massachusetts vocational-technical
education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. To create a new capital infrastructure and investment tool within the
2Massachusetts School Building Authority, established under section 1A of Chapter 70, to
3provide for a program of capital investments for vocational-technical education programs and
4regional vocational-technical schools, as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws, for
5investment in equitable access to public education and industry-relevant workforce and
6economic development infrastructure; to support greater access to vocational-technical education
7programs and regional vocational-technical schools as defined in Chapter 74; to fund
8replacement and renovation of school infrastructure to meet workforce demands of regional
9employers and increase equitable access for all students applying to Chapter 74 programs and
10schools; and to support the purchase of critical training equipment for the purposes of teaching
11and learning, the sums set forth in this section, for the purposes and subject to the conditions 2 of 9
12specified in this act, are hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement
13of public funds, which sums shall be in addition to any other amounts previously appropriated
14for these purposes; provided, that the amounts specified for a particular project may be adjusted
15in order to facilitate projects authorized in this act. For costs associated with initiatives, projects
16and expenditures to replace or make improvements to the quality, consistency, efficiency and
17delivery of any Chapter 74 program or regional school for the benefit of the public high school
18students in Chapter 74 programs and regional school districts and their preparation for post-
19secondary and career opportunities.
20 ………………………………………………………………………………….…………
21……
22 $3,000,000,000
23 SECTION 2. Section 10 of Chapter 70B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
24Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new subsection:
25 (d) Notwithstanding any state law, state regulation or agency policy to the contrary, the
26authority shall be authorized and directed to add twenty (20) percentage points to the project
27reimbursement rates for regional vocational-technical high school and county, regional and
28independent agricultural high school construction so that reimbursement rates for such projects
29are not less than 75% nor more than 90% of the eligible costs. Further, the authority shall add
30five (5) percentage points to the reimbursement rate for any project that includes state-approved
31vocational-technical education programs as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws aligned
32with priorities specifically identified in the Regional Labor Market Blueprint for the region in
33which the school is located. However, additional percentage points shall not be awarded unless 3 of 9
34the school currently offers five (5) or more Chapter 74 programs. In no case shall the total
35reimbursement for a project exceed 90% of eligible costs.
36 Funds for this Section shall come from revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment
37passed by voters in November of 2022 and which amended Article XLIV of the Massachusetts
38Constitution.
39 SECTION 3. Section 21C of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
40Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after subsection (n) the following new
41subsection:- (o) The local appropriating authority may, by accepting this paragraph, provide that
42taxes may thereafter be assessed in excess of the amount otherwise allowed by this section,
43solely for payment, in whole or in part, of debt service charges incurred for the construction of a
44regional-vocational technical high school that the school board responsible for determining the
45debt service charges certifies were not in fiscal year two thousand and twenty-one paid by local
46taxes.
47 SECTION 4. Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by
48adding the following section:-
49 Section 37. For the purposes of sections 38 through 42, inclusive, the following terms
50 shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-
51 “Office”, shall mean the office of vocational-technical education.
52 “District of residence”, shall mean the school district of the city or town where a student
53resides. 4 of 9
54 “School of residence”, shall mean the middle school or junior high school a student
55attends within their district of residence.
56 Section 38. (a) There is hereby established within the department of elementary and
57secondary education an office of vocational-technical education whose purpose is to develop and
58implement policies and promulgate regulations to promote, enhance, and expand vocational-
59technical education programs, as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws, in the
60commonwealth.
61 (b) The office shall:
62 (i) oversee all Chapter 74 approved programs and ensure compliance with M.G.L.
63Chapter 74 and related regulations;
64 (ii) establish a statewide marketing campaign to promote the success of vocational-
65technical education and careers in Massachusetts and to raise the level of awareness and
66understanding of such education among parents, students, businesses, labor unions, and the
67general public;
68 (iii) work to increase awareness of vocational-technical education and career
69opportunities among students in elementary schools, junior high schools, and middle schools;
70 (iv) ensure that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are provided reasonable access
71during the school day at schools of residence to meet with all students and distribute information
72about vocational-technical education and careers to said students, including English language
73learners, students with disabilities, students of color, and other student populations, to ensure that
74such information is provided equitably to all learners; 5 of 9
75 (v) ensure that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are given the opportunity during the
76school day to host middle school tours, with transportation costs paid by the school hosting the
77tour, for all middle school students in member communities, including English language
78learners, students with disabilities, students of color, and other student populations to ensure that
79such opportunities are provided equitably to all learners; and further ensure that the school of
80residence may not count middle school student tours of vocational schools or programs during
81the school day as unexcused absences if the vocational school or program confirms the student's
82participation, and may not unreasonably withhold student access to tours of vocational schools
83and programs during the school day.
84
85 (vi) require that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are given the opportunity to
86provide middle and junior high school students with information about vocational-technical
87programs and careers through mail and email.
88 (vii) require all middle schools and junior high schools in member communities to
89establish and implement a Chapter 74 Access Policy, in accordance with state requirements
90promoting equitable access to Chapter 74 programs, outlining specific ways in which the middle
91schools will collaborate with regional vocational-technical high schools and agricultural high
92schools to:
93 provide staff members from Chapter 74 schools with direct school day access to all
94middle school students, to inform them about opportunities in vocational-technical and
95agricultural education and to distribute materials about such opportunities to them; 6 of 9
96 provide all middle school students an opportunity to tour, during regular middle school
97hours, the regional vocational-technical high school and/or county agricultural school of which
98the middle school’s city or town is a member, with the transportation costs of all such tours being
99borne by the school hosting the tours;
100 provide contact information for all seventh-grade and eighth-grade middle school
101students, including a student’s name and mailing address, a student’s personal email address, and
102the parent’s/guardian’s email address by October 15 of each school year;
103 (viii) establish, in addition to the minimum requirements outlined in the preceding
104subsections, such additional requirements for Chapter 74 Access Policies as the office deems
105reasonable and necessary to promote equitable access by all students to information about
106vocational-technical and agricultural education;
107 (ix) require all sending school districts which are members of a regional-vocational
108school district or whose community is located in the county or district of an agricultural high
109school to:
110 submit the Chapter 74 Access Policy annually to the office;
111 annually attest in writing that the Chapter 74 Access Policy is being implemented
112equitably and that all students are being provided with information, access, and tours in
113accordance with this section and with federal and state civil rights laws, regulations, and policies;
114 post the Chapter 74 Access Policy on its district website and provide written copies to
115students and parents, upon request;
116 (x) create a mechanism to enforce timely implementation of Chapter 74 Access Policies; 7 of 9
117 (xi) establish a system to ensure that students who live in communities that are not
118members of or affiliated with a regional vocational-technical high school district or agricultural
119high school annually are provided with information about their high school options, including
120their option to seek an education in a vocational-technical or agricultural high school;
121 (xii) support the attainment of Industry Recognized Credentials in Chapter 74 programs;
122 (xiii) support the use of both longitudinal and pre- and post-student assessment as a
123means of obtaining meaningful data for curricular improvement. Data may be utilized for
124facilities improvement, equipment investments, mission success, and professional development;
125 (xiv) encourage and work to increase the use of articulation agreements with community
126colleges and public universities and other dual credit programs to allow vocational-technical
127students to earn credit leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree;
128 (xv) provide technical support to schools seeking to offer Chapter 74 programs that meet
129regional labor market demands and do not duplicate existing programs in the region;
130 (xvi) support the continuation of state grant programs that provide funding for equipment
131purchases and facility expansion; and
132 (xvii) support the continuation of demonstration programs that provide opportunities in
133vocational-technical education for students unable to secure a seat in an approved Chapter 74
134program due to lack of enrollment capacity.
135 SECTION 5. Section 3A of Chapter 70B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
136Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the number “17” and inserting “19” in place
137thereof, and further by inserting, after “Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts, Inc.” the 8 of 9
138following:- “,Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc., Alliance for
139Vocational Technical Education,”
140 SECTION 6. Chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the
141following new section: --
142 Section 10A. Expansion Grants for Regional Vocational-Technical Schools
143 (a) In addition to the funding otherwise provided pursuant to this chapter, any regional or
144county vocational or agricultural school shall, subject to appropriation, receive a one-year
145expansion grant in any fiscal year in which its foundation enrollment increases by more than two
146percent over its foundation enrollment for the previous fiscal year.
147 (b) The amount of said expansion grant shall be calculated by multiplying the number of
148additional students in its foundation enrollment, over its foundation enrollment for the previous
149fiscal year, by its per-student foundation budget amount. The per-student foundation budget
150amount shall be calculated by dividing the district’s foundation budget amount for the current
151year by its foundation enrollment for the prior fiscal year.
152 (c) The department shall annually solicit information from all regional and county
153vocational and agricultural schools as needed to estimate the amounts required to fund expansion
154grants in the coming fiscal year for all such schools, and the department shall request
155appropriation of the amount required to fully fund such expansion grants.
156 (d) If the amount appropriated for expansion grants in a fiscal year is less than the amount
157required to fully fund such grants, then each eligible regional or county vocational or agricultural
158school shall receive a share of the appropriated funds proportional to the share that its expansion 9 of 9
159grant, calculated pursuant to subsection (b), constitutes of the total amount of expansion grants
160for all schools, pursuant to said subsection.
161 SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, to meet the
162expenditures necessary in carrying out section 1, the state treasurer shall, upon receipt of a
163request by the governor, issue and sell bonds of the Commonwealth in an amount to be specified
164by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate, $3,000,000,000. All
165bonds issued by the commonwealth, as aforesaid, shall be designated on their face
166Commonwealth Vocational-Technical Education Expansion Act of 2023, and shall be issued for
167a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the
168general court pursuant to section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution;
169provided, however, that all such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2057. All interest
170and payments on account of principal on such obligations shall be payable from the General
171Fund. Bonds and interest thereon issued under the authority of this section shall, notwithstanding
172any other provision of this act, be general obligations of the Commonwealth.