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Massachusetts Senate Bill S1213

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1213 Compare Versions

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22 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1149 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
33 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1213
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Marc R. Pacheco
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act establishing a Commonwealth citizen service initiative.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Marc R. PachecoThird Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 16
1616 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1149 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
1717 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1213
1818 By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1213) of Marc R. Pacheco for
1919 legislation to establish the Massachusetts Service Alliance. Labor and Workforce Development.
2020 [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
2121 SEE SENATE, NO. 1242 OF 2021-2022.]
2222 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2323 _______________
2424 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
2525 (2023-2024)
2626 _______________
2727 An Act establishing a Commonwealth citizen service initiative.
2828 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
2929 of the same, as follows:
3030 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
3131 2121, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition.
3232 3 SECTION 2. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out sections 209 to
3333 4213, inclusive, as so appearing.
3434 5 SECTION 3. The general court finds: that the commonwealth has a strong history of
3535 6community service, community service-learning, and volunteerism, with a vast array of
3636 7programs that successfully mobilize volunteers and encourage students to be active members of
3737 8their communities; that every day thousands of people across the commonwealth generously give
3838 9their time to educate students, assist the elderly, protect our city streets and address other critical
3939 10community needs; that the increasing demand for services, and limited financial resources of the 2 of 16
4040 11commonwealth, have contributed to the need to call up the energy, compassion, inventiveness,
4141 12and the entrepreneurial spirit of all citizens to help solve many of the problems facing their
4242 13communities; that research shows community service-learning helps meet the goal of education
4343 14reform by improving student learning, enhancing student performance, and promoting the ethic
4444 15of service; that the entire state benefits from building upon the experience, expertise and
4545 16successes of the higher education service community to create the system-wide commonwealth
4646 17student corps; and that it is in the commonwealth's best interest to promote reforms that will
4747 18better coordinate volunteers, engage students in their communities, utilize funds, foster
4848 19communication among organizations, identify the needs of the state and replicate successful
4949 20models; and, that the purpose of these reforms is to make the commonwealth a national leader
5050 21for community service, community service-learning, and volunteerism.
5151 22 SECTION 4. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 6A the
5252 23following chapter:-
5353 24 CHAPTER 6C.
5454 25 MASSACHUSETTS SERVICE ALLIANCE COMMISSION.
5555 26 Section 1.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Service Alliance
5656 27Commission Law".
5757 28 Section 2. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts Service Alliance Commission, referred to in
5858 29this chapter as the MSA for the purpose of advising and assisting in the development and
5959 30implementation of a comprehensive, state-wide plan for promoting volunteer involvement and
6060 31citizen participation, as well as to serve as the commonwealth’s liaison to national and state
6161 32organizations which support the MSA’s mission. The MSA shall establish guidelines and 3 of 16
6262 33programs to reform, expand, replicate and implement community service and volunteer
6363 34opportunities in the commonwealth. The programs and activities shall be coordinated among
6464 35state departments and agencies to optimize the allocation of resources. The MSA shall
6565 36promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
6666 37 (b) The Service Alliance Commission membership shall meet the requirements of the
6767 38National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, as amended.
6868 39 Section 3. The MSA’s duties and responsibilities shall include but not be limited to, the
6969 40following:
7070 41 (1) fulfilling the requirements of a state commission or alternative administrative entity as
7171 42defined and outlined by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993;
7272 43 (2) coordinating the advice of and providing counsel to other state agencies and
7373 44organizations using community service and volunteerism as a strategy to assist in the solution of
7474 45local, regional, and statewide problems;
7575 46 (3) initiating and carrying out studies and analyses of proposed and implemented service
7676 47and volunteer programs, which will aid in the solving of local, regional, and statewide issues.
7777 48 (4) serving as an advocate for the needs of volunteers;
7878 49 (5) adopting regulations to expand corps opportunities to address all community needs,
7979 50such as education, environment, public safety, public health, and employment and training;
8080 51 (6) acting as a clearinghouse for information, data, and other materials relative to
8181 52community service and volunteer opportunities; 4 of 16
8282 53 (7) ensuring the coordination of community service and volunteer corps operating in the
8383 54commonwealth;
8484 55 (8) encouraging the corporate community of the commonwealth to become an active
8585 56partner in the support, advocacy and promotion of community service and volunteer
8686 57opportunities in the commonwealth;
8787 58 (9) requiring the assistance and participation of any department, division, bureau,
8888 59commission or agency of the commonwealth in order to carry out its duties;
8989 60 (10) advising and informing the general court and governor on the affairs and problems
9090 61of community service and volunteer opportunities in the commonwealth; and
9191 62 (11) developing outcome guidelines for accreditation of State Employees Responding as
9292 63Volunteers program, higher education service sites and other programs as deemed necessary.
9393 64 (12) developing mechanisms to encourage, promote and support programs that offer
9494 65community service and volunteer opportunities in the commonwealth for volunteers who are 55
9595 66years of age or older.
9696 67 Section 4. All state agencies shall cooperate with the MSA in carrying out its duties.
9797 68 Section 5. (a) The MSA shall appoint a community service-learning advisory council
9898 69consisting of not less than 10 nor more than 30 members. These persons shall represent a wide
9999 70range of professions and institutions involved in education and community service, which will
100100 71include, but not be limited to teachers, superintendents, counselors, students, school board
101101 72members, independent agencies, business community, a Massachusetts Service Alliance 5 of 16
102102 73member, a Massachusetts Campus Compact member, union representative and program
103103 74coordinators. The MSA member or designee shall chair the advisory council.
104104 75 (b). The advisory council shall assist the MSA, commissioner of education and the public
105105 76higher education institutions in the development of a statewide initiative to integrate the
106106 77philosophy and practice of community service-learning into the public schools, colleges and
107107 78universities. These guidelines shall be directly linked to the Education Reform Act pursuant to
108108 79chapter 71 of the acts of 1993. The council shall develop guidelines and criteria for
109109 80disseminating grants to districts through a competitive process and the establishment of
110110 81professional development opportunities for teachers, students, and community partners. The
111111 82council shall develop a plan to require all districts to integrate community service-learning into
112112 83curricula and teaching practices over a five-year period, beginning on January, 1, 2020.
113113 84 SECTION 5. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
114114 85section 31E, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, the following section:-
115115 86 Section 31F. The state employees voluntary program pursuant to section 31E shall be
116116 87expanded to address additional community needs, such as environmental, educational, health and
117117 88public safety issues throughout the commonwealth, through volunteer opportunities at accredited
118118 89non-profit organizations. The program shall be part of an aggressive advertising campaign
119119 90targeting, but not limited to, public employees and public institutions.
120120 91 SECTION 6. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
121121 92section 10A, as so appearing, the following 6 sections:- 6 of 16
122122 93 Section 10C. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the
123123 94commissioner, in coordination with the Massachusetts Service Alliance, shall establish a
124124 95curriculum based community service-learning initiative in all pubic schools.
125125 96 Section 10B. As used in this section and in sections 10C to 10G, inclusive, the following
126126 97words, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:
127127 98 "Community", a family, classroom, school, neighborhood, town or world as basis for
128128 99community service-learning.
129129 100 "Community service-learning", a pedagogical approach to learning and a methodology
130130 101for teaching, incorporating the study of local community problems and larger social issues into
131131 102the classroom curriculum, using real world scenarios as the basis for learning curricular content
132132 103and developing skills including, but not limited to critical and creative thinking skills, problem
133133 104solving, reasoning, communication and collaboration skills, hereinafter referred to as the
134134 105Common Core of Learning. Community service-learning enables students to be active,
135135 106contributing members of society;
136136 107 "Commissioner", the commissioner of education.
137137 108 "Department", the department of education.
138138 109 "Board", the board of education.
139139 110 Section 10D. (a) The purpose of this program shall be to ensure each school in the
140140 111commonwealth provides opportunities for each student enrolled in the Massachusetts public
141141 112schools to participate in community service-learning as a part of their regular academic courses,
142142 113including but not limited to, mathematics, science, English language arts, history and social 7 of 16
143143 114studies, art, health and world languages and other courses designed to address the student
144144 115learning goals and standards outlined in the Education Reform Act pursuant to chapter 71 of the
145145 116acts of 1993 and to increase the number of teachers using community service-learning.
146146 117 (b) This program shall provide schools with targeted professional development, resources
147147 118and grant awards to systematically integrate community service-learning into academic courses
148148 119of study and to encourage schools and school districts to incorporate community service-learning
149149 120into school-wide goals and school improvement plans pursuant to section 59C of chapter 71 of
150150 121the General Laws. The program will require that schools use community service-learning as a
151151 122strategy for implementing education reform and to make important structural and organizational
152152 123changes that support improved student learning and teacher professionalism.
153153 124 Section 10E. The commissioner, with the advisory council, shall have the responsibility
154154 125and authority to:
155155 126 (1) ensure each school in the commonwealth provides opportunities for students to
156156 127participate in community service-learning as a part of their regular academic courses including
157157 128but not limited to mathematics, science, English language arts, history and social studies, art,
158158 129health and world languages and other courses designed to address the student learning goals and
159159 130standards outlined in the Education Reform Act pursuant to chapter 71 of the acts of 1993;
160160 131 (2) ensure that each student enrolled in the Massachusetts public school system
161161 132participates in community service-learning at least once at each grade level;
162162 133 (3) each community service-learning experience will consist of the following standards:
163163 134(i) ensure that students understand how the needs of the community are identified or, when
164164 135appropriate, will identify the needs of the community; (ii) ensure that students develop, acquire 8 of 16
165165 136and demonstrate curricular knowledge and skills through participation in an integrated
166166 137community service-learning experience; (iii) ensure that students acquire a developmentally
167167 138appropriate understanding of the relationship between school, community and the importance of
168168 139school-community partnerships; and (iv) ensure that students and teachers will work in
169169 140collaboration with individuals and organizations in the community when appropriate in order to
170170 141develop and implement meaningful community service-learning experiences that reflect their
171171 142understanding of school and community relationships;
172172 143 (4) ensure that integration of community service-learning into academic curricula and
173173 144teaching practices will be aligned with the K-12 curriculum frameworks and learning standards
174174 145for the commonwealth and will be developed as per guidelines developed by the advisory
175175 146council and adopted by the department;
176176 147 (5) ensure that each school incorporates the process it will use to include community
177177 148service-learning into its curricula and teaching practices school-wide into its school improvement
178178 149development plan pursuant to section 59C of chapter 71 of the General Laws and its school
179179 150professional development plan, developed pursuant to section 38Q of said chapter 71;
180180 151 (6) ensure that each school annually submits data, as determined by the advisory council,
181181 152to the department verifying that community service-learning is being integrated into academic
182182 153curricula and that each student is participating in community service-learning at least once at
183183 154each grade level; and
184184 155 (7) ensure each school develops community service-learning curricula that incorporate
185185 156both the developmental needs of the students and the unmet needs of communities.
186186 157 Section 10F. The department shall, with the advisory council: 9 of 16
187187 158 (1) determine criteria for the successful integration of community service-learning into
188188 159academic curricula and teaching practices, provide technical assistance and training as needed,
189189 160and assess the progress of participating schools annually;
190190 161 (2) include one open-ended question on each state assessment test which will assess the
191191 162learning outcomes of community service-learning;
192192 163 (3) develop a statewide community service-learning initiative and plan for integrating
193193 164community service-learning into school curricula and teaching practices over a five year period
194194 165and ensure that this plan is integrated into the Massachusetts Service Alliance's Massachusetts
195195 166plan for service. All school schools shall begin to implement their individual five-year plans by
196196 167September, 1, 2021;
197197 168 (4) develop a staffing structure and appoint staff at the department’s office of curriculum
198198 169and instruction to coordinate all aspects of this statewide initiative;
199199 170 (5) deliver reports on the initiative to the Massachusetts Service Alliance as appropriate,
200200 171as well as publicize the exceptional examples of community service in various schools.
201201 172 Section 10G. School committees may include participation in a community service
202202 173program among requirements for high school graduation, or may grant academic credit for the
203203 174participation in the program.
204204 175 SECTION 7. Section 2 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
205205 176amended by adding the following 2 paragraphs:-
206206 177 The commissioner shall establish guidelines for promoting community service-learning
207207 178as a means of fulfilling the state's civic education requirements. For the purpose of this section, 10 of 16
208208 179the curriculum for civic education shall include, but not be limited to, such forms of community
209209 180service-learning that promotes an identification of community needs, investigation, analysis, and
210210 181research into those needs, and development and defense of a solution, as may be directed by the
211211 182department of education.
212212 183 The department of education shall file annually with the Massachusetts Service Alliance
213213 184on January first a report regarding civic education requirements. The community service-learning
214214 185advisory council shall develop guidelines to determine what pertinent data shall be included in
215215 186the report.
216216 187 SECTION 8. Section 2A of chapter 73 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
217217 188amended by adding the following paragraph:-
218218 189 Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the community
219219 190service-learning advisory council with the public higher education institutions shall establish
220220 191guidelines for promoting community service-learning as a means of fulfilling the state's civic
221221 192education program. For the purpose of this section, the curriculum for civic education shall
222222 193include, but not be limited to, such forms of community service-learning that promotes an
223223 194identification of community needs, investigation, analysis, and research into those needs, and
224224 195development and defense of a solution. Guidelines established by the community service-
225225 196learning advisory council with the public higher education institutions may include deadlines for
226226 197the implementation of the program, criteria for the program, hours necessary for the program,
227227 198and regional needs. The public higher education institutions shall file annually with the
228228 199Massachusetts Service Alliance on or before January 1 a report regarding civic education
229229 200programs. The community service-learning advisory council shall develop guidelines to 11 of 16
230230 201determine what pertinent data shall be included in the report, which shall include, but not be
231231 202limited to the performance measures set forth in section 7A of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
232232 203 SECTION 9. Said chapter 73 is hereby amended by inserting after said section 2A, as so
233233 204appearing, the following 2 sections:-
234234 205 Section 2B. As used in this chapter the following words, unless the context requires
235235 206otherwise, shall have the following meanings:
236236 207 “Massachusetts campus compact”, is a membership organization of college and
237237 208university presidents leading Massachusetts institutions of higher education in building a
238238 209statewide collaboration to promote service as a critical component of higher education.
239239 210 "Massachusetts Service Alliance", the organization created in chapter 6B, referred to in
240240 211this chapter as the MSA.
241241 212 "Council", the community service-learning advisory council.
242242 213 ”Public Higher Education Institutions”, the institutions cited in section 5 of chapter 15A
243243 214of the Massachusetts General Laws.
244244 215 "Commonwealth student corps", a statewide program to coordinate the activity of
245245 216students and others in activities, services and resources relative to the environment, education,
246246 217public health and public safety that support or provide primary service to underserved
247247 218populations and geographical areas in the commonwealth. The commonwealth student corps
248248 219shall consist of, but not be limited to, the student education corps, the student conservation corps,
249249 220the student health corps and the student public safety corps.
250250 221 "Commissioner", the commissioner of the department of education. 12 of 16
251251 222 "Unmet community needs", underserved populations and geographical areas in the
252252 223commonwealth.
253253 224 Section 2C. (a) The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall establish
254254 225the commonwealth student corps to expand opportunities for students of environmental
255255 226professions, student of educational professions, students of public health professions, students of
256256 227public safety professions, educators, practitioners, and active and retired certified professionals
257257 228to participate in public service programs that help meet critical community needs. The public
258258 229higher education institutions shall work in cooperation with the MSA and develop a program to
259259 230expand and coordinate public and private resources that promote community service by
260260 231connecting supervised students with professionals in service programs opportunities that are
261261 232consistent with students’ respective area of study
262262 233 (b) The public higher education institutions shall conduct, with the council, landscape
263263 234surveys that document the current status and successes of community-service learning
264264 235opportunities and programs at all Massachusetts public higher education institutions.
265265 236 (c) The public higher education institutions shall establish, as part of the commonwealth
266266 237student corps, a curriculum based community service program.
267267 238 (d) The public higher education institutions may work in cooperation with the MSA to
268268 239offer the opportunity for students to be matched with accredited service sites. The MSA shall
269269 240develop criteria for the accreditation of the service sites.
270270 241 (e) The purpose and goals of the curriculum based community service-learning program
271271 242is to: (1) increase opportunities for students throughout Massachusetts to participate in real world
272272 243applied learning through curriculum based service activities; (2) help address the state's 13 of 16
273273 244community needs; (3) strengthen communities through service; and (4) enhance the ethic of
274274 245service.
275275 246 (f) Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the public
276276 247higher education institutions, with the council, shall have the responsibility and authority to:
277277 248 (1) conduct studies and accredited projects;
278278 249 (2) apply to private sources and federal government for grants to implement studies and
279279 250accredited service projects; deposit funds and received from those sources in a separate account
280280 251at the department of each state college or university; and expend such funds for the purpose set
281281 252forth in this section;
282282 253 (3) enter into agreements with each other and other entities as allowed by law for the
283283 254purposes of implementing this chapter;
284284 255 (4) study the feasibility of utilizing the services of retired professionals and other licensed
285285 256and certified professionals;
286286 257 (5) deliver reports of the program to the governor and the general court as appropriate;
287287 258 (6) implement statewide commonwealth student corps programs designed to achieve the
288288 259comprehensive and coordinated delivery of services to underserved populations and geographical
289289 260areas; and
290290 261 (7) appoint a program director to implement and administer the studies and accredited
291291 262service projects initiated by this chapter.
292292 263 (g) The following shall be the deadlines for the implementation of the program: 14 of 16
293293 264 Phase I - The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall develop and
294294 265implement a curriculum based community service program for students participating in the
295295 266academic areas of education, the environment, public health, and public safety on or before
296296 267August 1, 2023;
297297 268 Phase II - The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall develop and
298298 269implement a curriculum based community service program institution-wide on or before August
299299 2701, 2023."
300300 271 SECTION 10. Said chapter 73 is hereby further amended by adding the following 7
301301 272sections:-
302302 273 Section 21. The MSA may adopt regulations necessary to implement this program.
303303 274 Section 22. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
304304 275education shall establish a student loan repayment program, to be known as the Massachusetts
305305 276community service and volunteer loan repayment program, for the purposes of encouraging
306306 277outstanding students to participate and foster community service and volunteer opportunities
307307 278within the commonwealth by providing financial assistance for the repayment of qualified
308308 279education loans, as defined herein.
309309 280 Section 23. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
310310 281education shall establish a scholarship program, to be known as Massachusetts community
311311 282service and volunteer scholarship program, to provide students in approved Massachusetts
312312 283colleges and universities with scholarships for tuition and fees for the purpose of encouraging
313313 284outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
314314 285opportunities within the commonwealth. 15 of 16
315315 286 Section 24. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
316316 287education shall establish a housing voucher program to be known as the Massachusetts
317317 288community service and volunteer housing voucher program, to provide students in approved
318318 289Massachusetts colleges and universities with housing vouchers for the purpose of encouraging
319319 290outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
320320 291opportunities within the commonwealth. The housing voucher, in the form and manner as the
321321 292board determines, may be utilized by the recipient to assist in paying housing costs, including
322322 293rent or mortgage payments, while the recipient is enrolled in good standing in the college or
323323 294university. A student shall not participate in more than one of the programs established under
324324 295sections 22 to 24, inclusive.
325325 296 Section 25. The public higher education institutions with the advisory council shall
326326 297establish a student community service and volunteer award, to be known as the Massachusetts
327327 298student community service and volunteer award, to provide students in approved Massachusetts
328328 299colleges and universities with the honor of receiving this award for the purpose of encouraging
329329 300outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
330330 301opportunities within the commonwealth.
331331 302 SECTION 11. A member of the commonwealth student corps shall not be considered an
332332 303employee of the commonwealth entitled to benefits such as worker's compensation or
333333 304unemployment benefits, nor shall a member be considered to be an employee of the
334334 305commonwealth. A municipality shall not be held liable for any claim arising out of a community
335335 306service program. Service opportunities shall not replace existing state employees.
336336 307 SECTION 12. The General Laws are hereby amended by striking out chapter 78A. 16 of 16
337337 308 SECTION 13. The commissioner of education and the public higher education
338338 309institutions shall each file annually with the community service-learning advisory council
339339 310established under chapter 6B of the General Laws on or before January 1, a report of schools
340340 311participating in community service-learning activities, the commonwealth corps activities, and
341341 312other the progress of other community service and volunteer programs, as well as other pertinent
342342 313service data as determined by the advisory council. The Massachusetts Service Alliance shall
343343 314compile the reports and additional service data and report annually to the clerk of the senate and
344344 315house of representatives on or before September 1 in order to foster communication among local,
345345 316state and federally funded programs engaged in community service and volunteer opportunities.
346346 317Said report shall include, but not be limited to:
347347 318 (1) a financial statement summarizing its expenditures and available funds;
348348 319 (2) the number of projects and proposed corps placements submitted to it;
349349 320 (3) the number of volunteers generated;
350350 321 (4) a description of approved projects and a summary of the work completed.
351351 322 SECTION 14. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary,
352352 323the public higher education institutions participation in community service learning activities, the
353353 324commonwealth corps activities, and any other community service and volunteer programs, shall
354354 325be included as one of the performance measures within the performance measurement systems
355355 326established pursuant to the provisions of section 7A of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
356356 327 SECTION 15. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.