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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1149 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1213
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marc R. Pacheco
_________________
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 establishing a Commonwealth citizen service initiative.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Marc R. PachecoThird Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 16
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1149 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1213
By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1213) of Marc R. Pacheco for
legislation to establish the Massachusetts Service Alliance. Labor and Workforce Development.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1242 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act establishing a Commonwealth citizen service initiative.
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. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
2121, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition.
3 SECTION 2. Said chapter 6 is hereby further amended by striking out sections 209 to
4213, inclusive, as so appearing.
5 SECTION 3. The general court finds: that the commonwealth has a strong history of
6community service, community service-learning, and volunteerism, with a vast array of
7programs that successfully mobilize volunteers and encourage students to be active members of
8their communities; that every day thousands of people across the commonwealth generously give
9their time to educate students, assist the elderly, protect our city streets and address other critical
10community needs; that the increasing demand for services, and limited financial resources of the 2 of 16
11commonwealth, have contributed to the need to call up the energy, compassion, inventiveness,
12and the entrepreneurial spirit of all citizens to help solve many of the problems facing their
13communities; that research shows community service-learning helps meet the goal of education
14reform by improving student learning, enhancing student performance, and promoting the ethic
15of service; that the entire state benefits from building upon the experience, expertise and
16successes of the higher education service community to create the system-wide commonwealth
17student corps; and that it is in the commonwealth's best interest to promote reforms that will
18better coordinate volunteers, engage students in their communities, utilize funds, foster
19communication among organizations, identify the needs of the state and replicate successful
20models; and, that the purpose of these reforms is to make the commonwealth a national leader
21for community service, community service-learning, and volunteerism.
22 SECTION 4. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 6A the
23following chapter:-
24 CHAPTER 6C.
25 MASSACHUSETTS SERVICE ALLIANCE COMMISSION.
26 Section 1.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Service Alliance
27Commission Law".
28 Section 2. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts Service Alliance Commission, referred to in
29this chapter as the MSA for the purpose of advising and assisting in the development and
30implementation of a comprehensive, state-wide plan for promoting volunteer involvement and
31citizen participation, as well as to serve as the commonwealth’s liaison to national and state
32organizations which support the MSA’s mission. The MSA shall establish guidelines and 3 of 16
33programs to reform, expand, replicate and implement community service and volunteer
34opportunities in the commonwealth. The programs and activities shall be coordinated among
35state departments and agencies to optimize the allocation of resources. The MSA shall
36promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
37 (b) The Service Alliance Commission membership shall meet the requirements of the
38National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, as amended.
39 Section 3. The MSA’s duties and responsibilities shall include but not be limited to, the
40following:
41 (1) fulfilling the requirements of a state commission or alternative administrative entity as
42defined and outlined by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993;
43 (2) coordinating the advice of and providing counsel to other state agencies and
44organizations using community service and volunteerism as a strategy to assist in the solution of
45local, regional, and statewide problems;
46 (3) initiating and carrying out studies and analyses of proposed and implemented service
47and volunteer programs, which will aid in the solving of local, regional, and statewide issues.
48 (4) serving as an advocate for the needs of volunteers;
49 (5) adopting regulations to expand corps opportunities to address all community needs,
50such as education, environment, public safety, public health, and employment and training;
51 (6) acting as a clearinghouse for information, data, and other materials relative to
52community service and volunteer opportunities; 4 of 16
53 (7) ensuring the coordination of community service and volunteer corps operating in the
54commonwealth;
55 (8) encouraging the corporate community of the commonwealth to become an active
56partner in the support, advocacy and promotion of community service and volunteer
57opportunities in the commonwealth;
58 (9) requiring the assistance and participation of any department, division, bureau,
59commission or agency of the commonwealth in order to carry out its duties;
60 (10) advising and informing the general court and governor on the affairs and problems
61of community service and volunteer opportunities in the commonwealth; and
62 (11) developing outcome guidelines for accreditation of State Employees Responding as
63Volunteers program, higher education service sites and other programs as deemed necessary.
64 (12) developing mechanisms to encourage, promote and support programs that offer
65community service and volunteer opportunities in the commonwealth for volunteers who are 55
66years of age or older.
67 Section 4. All state agencies shall cooperate with the MSA in carrying out its duties.
68 Section 5. (a) The MSA shall appoint a community service-learning advisory council
69consisting of not less than 10 nor more than 30 members. These persons shall represent a wide
70range of professions and institutions involved in education and community service, which will
71include, but not be limited to teachers, superintendents, counselors, students, school board
72members, independent agencies, business community, a Massachusetts Service Alliance 5 of 16
73member, a Massachusetts Campus Compact member, union representative and program
74coordinators. The MSA member or designee shall chair the advisory council.
75 (b). The advisory council shall assist the MSA, commissioner of education and the public
76higher education institutions in the development of a statewide initiative to integrate the
77philosophy and practice of community service-learning into the public schools, colleges and
78universities. These guidelines shall be directly linked to the Education Reform Act pursuant to
79chapter 71 of the acts of 1993. The council shall develop guidelines and criteria for
80disseminating grants to districts through a competitive process and the establishment of
81professional development opportunities for teachers, students, and community partners. The
82council shall develop a plan to require all districts to integrate community service-learning into
83curricula and teaching practices over a five-year period, beginning on January, 1, 2020.
84 SECTION 5. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
85section 31E, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, the following section:-
86 Section 31F. The state employees voluntary program pursuant to section 31E shall be
87expanded to address additional community needs, such as environmental, educational, health and
88public safety issues throughout the commonwealth, through volunteer opportunities at accredited
89non-profit organizations. The program shall be part of an aggressive advertising campaign
90targeting, but not limited to, public employees and public institutions.
91 SECTION 6. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
92section 10A, as so appearing, the following 6 sections:- 6 of 16
93 Section 10C. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the
94commissioner, in coordination with the Massachusetts Service Alliance, shall establish a
95curriculum based community service-learning initiative in all pubic schools.
96 Section 10B. As used in this section and in sections 10C to 10G, inclusive, the following
97words, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:
98 "Community", a family, classroom, school, neighborhood, town or world as basis for
99community service-learning.
100 "Community service-learning", a pedagogical approach to learning and a methodology
101for teaching, incorporating the study of local community problems and larger social issues into
102the classroom curriculum, using real world scenarios as the basis for learning curricular content
103and developing skills including, but not limited to critical and creative thinking skills, problem
104solving, reasoning, communication and collaboration skills, hereinafter referred to as the
105Common Core of Learning. Community service-learning enables students to be active,
106contributing members of society;
107 "Commissioner", the commissioner of education.
108 "Department", the department of education.
109 "Board", the board of education.
110 Section 10D. (a) The purpose of this program shall be to ensure each school in the
111commonwealth provides opportunities for each student enrolled in the Massachusetts public
112schools to participate in community service-learning as a part of their regular academic courses,
113including but not limited to, mathematics, science, English language arts, history and social 7 of 16
114studies, art, health and world languages and other courses designed to address the student
115learning goals and standards outlined in the Education Reform Act pursuant to chapter 71 of the
116acts of 1993 and to increase the number of teachers using community service-learning.
117 (b) This program shall provide schools with targeted professional development, resources
118and grant awards to systematically integrate community service-learning into academic courses
119of study and to encourage schools and school districts to incorporate community service-learning
120into school-wide goals and school improvement plans pursuant to section 59C of chapter 71 of
121the General Laws. The program will require that schools use community service-learning as a
122strategy for implementing education reform and to make important structural and organizational
123changes that support improved student learning and teacher professionalism.
124 Section 10E. The commissioner, with the advisory council, shall have the responsibility
125and authority to:
126 (1) ensure each school in the commonwealth provides opportunities for students to
127participate in community service-learning as a part of their regular academic courses including
128but not limited to mathematics, science, English language arts, history and social studies, art,
129health and world languages and other courses designed to address the student learning goals and
130standards outlined in the Education Reform Act pursuant to chapter 71 of the acts of 1993;
131 (2) ensure that each student enrolled in the Massachusetts public school system
132participates in community service-learning at least once at each grade level;
133 (3) each community service-learning experience will consist of the following standards:
134(i) ensure that students understand how the needs of the community are identified or, when
135appropriate, will identify the needs of the community; (ii) ensure that students develop, acquire 8 of 16
136and demonstrate curricular knowledge and skills through participation in an integrated
137community service-learning experience; (iii) ensure that students acquire a developmentally
138appropriate understanding of the relationship between school, community and the importance of
139school-community partnerships; and (iv) ensure that students and teachers will work in
140collaboration with individuals and organizations in the community when appropriate in order to
141develop and implement meaningful community service-learning experiences that reflect their
142understanding of school and community relationships;
143 (4) ensure that integration of community service-learning into academic curricula and
144teaching practices will be aligned with the K-12 curriculum frameworks and learning standards
145for the commonwealth and will be developed as per guidelines developed by the advisory
146council and adopted by the department;
147 (5) ensure that each school incorporates the process it will use to include community
148service-learning into its curricula and teaching practices school-wide into its school improvement
149development plan pursuant to section 59C of chapter 71 of the General Laws and its school
150professional development plan, developed pursuant to section 38Q of said chapter 71;
151 (6) ensure that each school annually submits data, as determined by the advisory council,
152to the department verifying that community service-learning is being integrated into academic
153curricula and that each student is participating in community service-learning at least once at
154each grade level; and
155 (7) ensure each school develops community service-learning curricula that incorporate
156both the developmental needs of the students and the unmet needs of communities.
157 Section 10F. The department shall, with the advisory council: 9 of 16
158 (1) determine criteria for the successful integration of community service-learning into
159academic curricula and teaching practices, provide technical assistance and training as needed,
160and assess the progress of participating schools annually;
161 (2) include one open-ended question on each state assessment test which will assess the
162learning outcomes of community service-learning;
163 (3) develop a statewide community service-learning initiative and plan for integrating
164community service-learning into school curricula and teaching practices over a five year period
165and ensure that this plan is integrated into the Massachusetts Service Alliance's Massachusetts
166plan for service. All school schools shall begin to implement their individual five-year plans by
167September, 1, 2021;
168 (4) develop a staffing structure and appoint staff at the department’s office of curriculum
169and instruction to coordinate all aspects of this statewide initiative;
170 (5) deliver reports on the initiative to the Massachusetts Service Alliance as appropriate,
171as well as publicize the exceptional examples of community service in various schools.
172 Section 10G. School committees may include participation in a community service
173program among requirements for high school graduation, or may grant academic credit for the
174participation in the program.
175 SECTION 7. Section 2 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
176amended by adding the following 2 paragraphs:-
177 The commissioner shall establish guidelines for promoting community service-learning
178as a means of fulfilling the state's civic education requirements. For the purpose of this section, 10 of 16
179the curriculum for civic education shall include, but not be limited to, such forms of community
180service-learning that promotes an identification of community needs, investigation, analysis, and
181research into those needs, and development and defense of a solution, as may be directed by the
182department of education.
183 The department of education shall file annually with the Massachusetts Service Alliance
184on January first a report regarding civic education requirements. The community service-learning
185advisory council shall develop guidelines to determine what pertinent data shall be included in
186the report.
187 SECTION 8. Section 2A of chapter 73 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
188amended by adding the following paragraph:-
189 Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the community
190service-learning advisory council with the public higher education institutions shall establish
191guidelines for promoting community service-learning as a means of fulfilling the state's civic
192education program. For the purpose of this section, the curriculum for civic education shall
193include, but not be limited to, such forms of community service-learning that promotes an
194identification of community needs, investigation, analysis, and research into those needs, and
195development and defense of a solution. Guidelines established by the community service-
196learning advisory council with the public higher education institutions may include deadlines for
197the implementation of the program, criteria for the program, hours necessary for the program,
198and regional needs. The public higher education institutions shall file annually with the
199Massachusetts Service Alliance on or before January 1 a report regarding civic education
200programs. The community service-learning advisory council shall develop guidelines to 11 of 16
201determine what pertinent data shall be included in the report, which shall include, but not be
202limited to the performance measures set forth in section 7A of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
203 SECTION 9. Said chapter 73 is hereby amended by inserting after said section 2A, as so
204appearing, the following 2 sections:-
205 Section 2B. As used in this chapter the following words, unless the context requires
206otherwise, shall have the following meanings:
207 “Massachusetts campus compact”, is a membership organization of college and
208university presidents leading Massachusetts institutions of higher education in building a
209statewide collaboration to promote service as a critical component of higher education.
210 "Massachusetts Service Alliance", the organization created in chapter 6B, referred to in
211this chapter as the MSA.
212 "Council", the community service-learning advisory council.
213 ”Public Higher Education Institutions”, the institutions cited in section 5 of chapter 15A
214of the Massachusetts General Laws.
215 "Commonwealth student corps", a statewide program to coordinate the activity of
216students and others in activities, services and resources relative to the environment, education,
217public health and public safety that support or provide primary service to underserved
218populations and geographical areas in the commonwealth. The commonwealth student corps
219shall consist of, but not be limited to, the student education corps, the student conservation corps,
220the student health corps and the student public safety corps.
221 "Commissioner", the commissioner of the department of education. 12 of 16
222 "Unmet community needs", underserved populations and geographical areas in the
223commonwealth.
224 Section 2C. (a) The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall establish
225the commonwealth student corps to expand opportunities for students of environmental
226professions, student of educational professions, students of public health professions, students of
227public safety professions, educators, practitioners, and active and retired certified professionals
228to participate in public service programs that help meet critical community needs. The public
229higher education institutions shall work in cooperation with the MSA and develop a program to
230expand and coordinate public and private resources that promote community service by
231connecting supervised students with professionals in service programs opportunities that are
232consistent with students’ respective area of study
233 (b) The public higher education institutions shall conduct, with the council, landscape
234surveys that document the current status and successes of community-service learning
235opportunities and programs at all Massachusetts public higher education institutions.
236 (c) The public higher education institutions shall establish, as part of the commonwealth
237student corps, a curriculum based community service program.
238 (d) The public higher education institutions may work in cooperation with the MSA to
239offer the opportunity for students to be matched with accredited service sites. The MSA shall
240develop criteria for the accreditation of the service sites.
241 (e) The purpose and goals of the curriculum based community service-learning program
242is to: (1) increase opportunities for students throughout Massachusetts to participate in real world
243applied learning through curriculum based service activities; (2) help address the state's 13 of 16
244community needs; (3) strengthen communities through service; and (4) enhance the ethic of
245service.
246 (f) Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, the public
247higher education institutions, with the council, shall have the responsibility and authority to:
248 (1) conduct studies and accredited projects;
249 (2) apply to private sources and federal government for grants to implement studies and
250accredited service projects; deposit funds and received from those sources in a separate account
251at the department of each state college or university; and expend such funds for the purpose set
252forth in this section;
253 (3) enter into agreements with each other and other entities as allowed by law for the
254purposes of implementing this chapter;
255 (4) study the feasibility of utilizing the services of retired professionals and other licensed
256and certified professionals;
257 (5) deliver reports of the program to the governor and the general court as appropriate;
258 (6) implement statewide commonwealth student corps programs designed to achieve the
259comprehensive and coordinated delivery of services to underserved populations and geographical
260areas; and
261 (7) appoint a program director to implement and administer the studies and accredited
262service projects initiated by this chapter.
263 (g) The following shall be the deadlines for the implementation of the program: 14 of 16
264 Phase I - The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall develop and
265implement a curriculum based community service program for students participating in the
266academic areas of education, the environment, public health, and public safety on or before
267August 1, 2023;
268 Phase II - The public higher education institutions, with the council, shall develop and
269implement a curriculum based community service program institution-wide on or before August
2701, 2023."
271 SECTION 10. Said chapter 73 is hereby further amended by adding the following 7
272sections:-
273 Section 21. The MSA may adopt regulations necessary to implement this program.
274 Section 22. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
275education shall establish a student loan repayment program, to be known as the Massachusetts
276community service and volunteer loan repayment program, for the purposes of encouraging
277outstanding students to participate and foster community service and volunteer opportunities
278within the commonwealth by providing financial assistance for the repayment of qualified
279education loans, as defined herein.
280 Section 23. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
281education shall establish a scholarship program, to be known as Massachusetts community
282service and volunteer scholarship program, to provide students in approved Massachusetts
283colleges and universities with scholarships for tuition and fees for the purpose of encouraging
284outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
285opportunities within the commonwealth. 15 of 16
286 Section 24. Subject to a specific appropriation for this purpose, the board of higher
287education shall establish a housing voucher program to be known as the Massachusetts
288community service and volunteer housing voucher program, to provide students in approved
289Massachusetts colleges and universities with housing vouchers for the purpose of encouraging
290outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
291opportunities within the commonwealth. The housing voucher, in the form and manner as the
292board determines, may be utilized by the recipient to assist in paying housing costs, including
293rent or mortgage payments, while the recipient is enrolled in good standing in the college or
294university. A student shall not participate in more than one of the programs established under
295sections 22 to 24, inclusive.
296 Section 25. The public higher education institutions with the advisory council shall
297establish a student community service and volunteer award, to be known as the Massachusetts
298student community service and volunteer award, to provide students in approved Massachusetts
299colleges and universities with the honor of receiving this award for the purpose of encouraging
300outstanding Massachusetts' students to participate and foster community service and volunteer
301opportunities within the commonwealth.
302 SECTION 11. A member of the commonwealth student corps shall not be considered an
303employee of the commonwealth entitled to benefits such as worker's compensation or
304unemployment benefits, nor shall a member be considered to be an employee of the
305commonwealth. A municipality shall not be held liable for any claim arising out of a community
306service program. Service opportunities shall not replace existing state employees.
307 SECTION 12. The General Laws are hereby amended by striking out chapter 78A. 16 of 16
308 SECTION 13. The commissioner of education and the public higher education
309institutions shall each file annually with the community service-learning advisory council
310established under chapter 6B of the General Laws on or before January 1, a report of schools
311participating in community service-learning activities, the commonwealth corps activities, and
312other the progress of other community service and volunteer programs, as well as other pertinent
313service data as determined by the advisory council. The Massachusetts Service Alliance shall
314compile the reports and additional service data and report annually to the clerk of the senate and
315house of representatives on or before September 1 in order to foster communication among local,
316state and federally funded programs engaged in community service and volunteer opportunities.
317Said report shall include, but not be limited to:
318 (1) a financial statement summarizing its expenditures and available funds;
319 (2) the number of projects and proposed corps placements submitted to it;
320 (3) the number of volunteers generated;
321 (4) a description of approved projects and a summary of the work completed.
322 SECTION 14. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary,
323the public higher education institutions participation in community service learning activities, the
324commonwealth corps activities, and any other community service and volunteer programs, shall
325be included as one of the performance measures within the performance measurement systems
326established pursuant to the provisions of section 7A of chapter 15A of the General Laws.
327 SECTION 15. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.