SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2675
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
SENATE, April 1, 2024.
The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied
by bill, Senate, No. 822) of Lydia Edwards, Sal N. DiDomenico and Russell E. Holmes for
legislation to instruct the board of higher education to engage house of corrections and state
prisons, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2675).
For the committee,
Joanne M. Comerford 1 of 3
FILED ON: 2/7/2024
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2675
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act instructing the Department of Higher Education to engage houses of correction & state
prisons.
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 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 15G the following subsection:-
3 Section 15H. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings:
5 “Credit status”, currently incarcerated persons as well as most recently released persons
6who, during the term of incarceration, completed and received certification of requirements for
7an award of a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) with Credit and have been determined to be
8eligible for acceptance into freshman level, for-credit study at a public institution of higher
9education in Massachusetts.
10 “Incarcerated person”, a committed offender or such other person as is placed in custody
11in a correctional facility in accordance with law. 2 of 3
12 “Recently released”, release of a previously incarcerated person from a county jail, house
13of correction, or state prison to a non-custodial status that has occurred before the most recent
14specific outreach of admissions or financial aid staff under subsection (b).
15 (b) The department of higher education shall oversee and supervise regular outreach to
16each county Jail, House of Correction, and State Prison by admissions or financial aid staff of
17public institutions of higher education.
18 The outreach shall ensure timely identification, at least twice per calendar year, by
19region, of individuals who have obtained Credit Status. County Sheriffs and the Commissioner
20of Correction shall ensure reciprocal cooperation in this outreach by compiling twice a year a
21record of current incarcerated persons and most recently released persons who meet the
22requirements for acceptance into a public institution of higher education in Massachusetts.
23 (c) If a recently released person has met the requirements for credit status but has been
24released, the Sheriff and the Commissioner of Correction shall provide to the admissions or
25financial aid staff representative of a public institution of higher education the last known
26information concerning the anticipated place of residence and, if available, contact information
27for the most recently released person.
28 The admissions or financial aid staff representative of the public institution of higher
29education shall, upon engagement of the qualified incarcerated person or recently released
30person, provide specific counsel and offer expedient assistance to facilitate the current
31incarcerated person’s or recently released person’s enrollment into freshman level for credit
32study in the next available semester, at the public institution of higher education. In the case of
33current qualified incarcerated person, this offer of assistance and expedited enrollment shall 3 of 3
34occur within 30 days of the incarcerated person’s scheduled release from the House of
35Correction or the State Prison. This facilitated and expedited assistance shall include the
36provision of financial aid, including need-based scholarships, to cover all costs not covered by
37other financial aid programs of tuition, fees, and necessary supplies during the initial semester
38following release and shall be available to the student for each subsequent semester of study
39through completion of requirements for the award of a Certificate or Diploma.
40 (d) The department of higher education, in consultation with the department of
41correction, county sheriffs, and organizations concerned about the education of incarcerated
42persons, shall promulgate regulations and guidelines for the implementation of this section.
43 (e) The department of higher education shall file an annual report to the house and senate
44ways and means committees, the joint committee on the judiciary, the joint committee on public
45safety and Security, and the joint committee on higher education concerning the annual results of
46this outreach and engagement initiative.