Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S274 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 2
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1697 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 274
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Paul R. Feeney
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to improve access, opportunity, and capacity in Massachusetts vocational-technical
13	13	education.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and NorfolkJacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester1/20/2023Adam Scanlon14th Bristol1/25/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/1/2023Michael F. RushNorfolk and Suffolk2/1/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023John J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex2/3/2023Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
17	17	Hampshire
18	18	2/6/2023Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester2/6/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/8/2023Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth2/8/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/8/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands2/10/2023Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk2/10/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/16/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/16/2023 2 of 2
19	19	John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire2/16/2023Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable2/20/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk3/1/2023Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk3/9/2023 1 of 9
20	20	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1697 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
21	21	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 274
22	22	By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 274) of Paul R. Feeney, Jacob R.
23	23	Oliveira, Adam Scanlon, Susan Williams Gifford and other members of the General Court for
24	24	legislation to improve access, opportunity, and capacity in Massachusetts vocational-technical
25	25	education. Education.
26	26	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
27	27	_______________
28	28	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
29	29	(2023-2024)
30	30	_______________
31	31	An Act to improve access, opportunity, and capacity in Massachusetts vocational-technical
32	32	education.
33	33	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
34	34	of the same, as follows:
35	35	1 SECTION 1. To create a new capital infrastructure and investment tool within the
36	36	2Massachusetts School Building Authority, established under section 1A of Chapter 70, to
37	37	3provide for a program of capital investments for vocational-technical education programs and
38	38	4regional vocational-technical schools, as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws, for
39	39	5investment in equitable access to public education and industry-relevant workforce and
40	40	6economic development infrastructure; to support greater access to vocational-technical education
41	41	7programs and regional vocational-technical schools as defined in Chapter 74; to fund
42	42	8replacement and renovation of school infrastructure to meet workforce demands of regional
43	43	9employers and increase equitable access for all students applying to Chapter 74 programs and
44	44	10schools; and to support the purchase of critical training equipment for the purposes of teaching
45	45	11and learning, the sums set forth in this section, for the purposes and subject to the conditions 2 of 9
46	46	12specified in this act, are hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement
47	47	13of public funds, which sums shall be in addition to any other amounts previously appropriated
48	48	14for these purposes; provided, that the amounts specified for a particular project may be adjusted
49	49	15in order to facilitate projects authorized in this act. For costs associated with initiatives, projects
50	50	16and expenditures to replace or make improvements to the quality, consistency, efficiency and
51	51	17delivery of any Chapter 74 program or regional school for the benefit of the public high school
52	52	18students in Chapter 74 programs and regional school districts and their preparation for post-
53	53	19secondary and career opportunities.……….………………$3,000,000,000
54	54	20 SECTION 2. Section 10 of Chapter 70B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
55	55	21Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new subsection:
56	56	22 (d) Notwithstanding any state law, state regulation or agency policy to the contrary, the
57	57	23authority shall be authorized and directed to add twenty (20) percentage points to the project
58	58	24reimbursement rates for regional vocational-technical high school and county, regional and
59	59	25independent agricultural high school construction so that reimbursement rates for such projects
60	60	26are not less than 75% nor more than 90% of the eligible costs. Further, the authority shall add
61	61	27five (5) percentage points to the reimbursement rate for any project that includes state-approved
62	62	28vocational-technical education programs as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws aligned
63	63	29with priorities specifically identified in the Regional Labor Market Blueprint for the region in
64	64	30which the school is located. However, additional percentage points shall not be awarded unless
65	65	31the school currently offers five (5) or more Chapter 74 programs. In no case shall the total
66	66	32reimbursement for a project exceed 90% of eligible costs. 3 of 9
67	67	33 Funds for this Section shall come from revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment
68	68	34passed by voters in November of 2022 and which amended Article XLIV of the Massachusetts
69	69	35Constitution.
70	70	36 SECTION 3. Section 21C of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
71	71	37Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after subsection (n) the following new
72	72	38subsection:- (o) The local appropriating authority may, by accepting this paragraph, provide that
73	73	39taxes may thereafter be assessed in excess of the amount otherwise allowed by this section,
74	74	40solely for payment, in whole or in part, of debt service charges incurred for the construction of a
75	75	41regional-vocational technical high school that the school board responsible for determining the
76	76	42debt service charges certifies were not in fiscal year two thousand and twenty-one paid by local
77	77	43taxes.
78	78	44 SECTION 4. Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by
79	79	45adding the following section:-
80	80	46 Section 37. For the purposes of sections 38 through 42, inclusive, the following terms
81	81	47 shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-
82	82	48 “Office”, shall mean the office of vocational-technical education.
83	83	49 “District of residence”, shall mean the school district of the city or town where a student
84	84	50resides.
85	85	51 “School of residence”, shall mean the middle school or junior high school a student
86	86	52attends within their district of residence. 4 of 9
87	87	53 Section 38. (a) There is hereby established within the department of elementary and
88	88	54secondary education an office of vocational-technical education whose purpose is to develop and
89	89	55implement policies and promulgate regulations to promote, enhance, and expand vocational-
90	90	56technical education programs, as defined in Chapter 74 of the General Laws, in the
91	91	57commonwealth.
92	92	58 (b) The office shall:
93	93	59 (i) oversee all Chapter 74 approved programs and ensure compliance with M.G.L.
94	94	60Chapter 74 and related regulations;
95	95	61 (ii) establish a statewide marketing campaign to promote the success of vocational-
96	96	62technical education and careers in Massachusetts and to raise the level of awareness and
97	97	63understanding of such education among parents, students, businesses, labor unions, and the
98	98	64general public;
99	99	65 (iii) work to increase awareness of vocational-technical education and career
100	100	66opportunities among students in elementary schools, junior high schools, and middle schools;
101	101	67 (iv) ensure that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are provided reasonable access
102	102	68during the school day at schools of residence to meet with all students and distribute information
103	103	69about vocational-technical education and careers to said students, including English language
104	104	70learners, students with disabilities, students of color, and other student populations, to ensure that
105	105	71such information is provided equitably to all learners;
106	106	72 (v) ensure that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are given the opportunity during the
107	107	73school day to host middle school tours, with transportation costs paid by the school hosting the 5 of 9
108	108	74tour, for all middle school students in member communities, including English language
109	109	75learners, students with disabilities, students of color, and other student populations to ensure that
110	110	76such opportunities are provided equitably to all learners; and further ensure that the school of
111	111	77residence may not count middle school student tours of vocational schools or programs during
112	112	78the school day as unexcused absences if the vocational school or program confirms the student's
113	113	79participation, and may not unreasonably withhold student access to tours of vocational schools
114	114	80and programs during the school day.
115	115	81 (vi) require that schools offering Chapter 74 programs are given the opportunity to
116	116	82provide middle and junior high school students with information about vocational-technical
117	117	83programs and careers through mail and email.
118	118	84 (vii) require all middle schools and junior high schools in member communities to
119	119	85establish and implement a Chapter 74 Access Policy, in accordance with state requirements
120	120	86promoting equitable access to Chapter 74 programs, outlining specific ways in which the middle
121	121	87schools will collaborate with regional vocational-technical high schools and agricultural high
122	122	88schools to:
123	123	89 (a) provide staff members from Chapter 74 schools with direct school day access to all
124	124	90middle school students, to inform them about opportunities in vocational-technical and
125	125	91agricultural education and to distribute materials about such opportunities to them;
126	126	92 (b) provide all middle school students an opportunity to tour, during regular middle
127	127	93school hours, the regional vocational-technical high school and/or county agricultural school of
128	128	94which the middle school’s city or town is a member, with the transportation costs of all such
129	129	95tours being borne by the school hosting the tours; 6 of 9
130	130	96 (c) provide contact information for all seventh-grade and eighth-grade middle school
131	131	97students, including a student’s name and mailing address, a student’s personal email address, and
132	132	98the parent’s/guardian’s email address by October 15 of each school year;
133	133	99 (viii) establish, in addition to the minimum requirements outlined in the preceding
134	134	100subsections, such additional requirements for Chapter 74 Access Policies as the office deems
135	135	101reasonable and necessary to promote equitable access by all students to information about
136	136	102vocational-technical and agricultural education;
137	137	103 (ix) require all sending school districts which are members of a regional-vocational
138	138	104school district or whose community is located in the county or district of an agricultural high
139	139	105school to:
140	140	106 (a) submit the Chapter 74 Access Policy annually to the office;
141	141	107 (b) annually attest in writing that the Chapter 74 Access Policy is being implemented
142	142	108equitably and that all students are being provided with information, access, and tours in
143	143	109accordance with this section and with federal and state civil rights laws, regulations, and policies;
144	144	110 (c) post the Chapter 74 Access Policy on its district website and provide written copies to
145	145	111students and parents, upon request;
146	146	112 (x) create a mechanism to enforce timely implementation of Chapter 74 Access Policies;
147	147	113 (xi) establish a system to ensure that students who live in communities that are not
148	148	114members of or affiliated with a regional vocational-technical high school district or agricultural
149	149	115high school annually are provided with information about their high school options, including
150	150	116their option to seek an education in a vocational-technical or agricultural high school; 7 of 9
151	151	117 (xii) support the attainment of Industry Recognized Credentials in Chapter 74 programs;
152	152	118 (xiii) support the use of both longitudinal and pre- and post-student assessment as a
153	153	119means of obtaining meaningful data for curricular improvement. Data may be utilized for
154	154	120facilities improvement, equipment investments, mission success, and professional development;
155	155	121 (xiv) encourage and work to increase the use of articulation agreements with community
156	156	122colleges and public universities and other dual credit programs to allow vocational-technical
157	157	123students to earn credit leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree;
158	158	124 (xv) provide technical support to schools seeking to offer Chapter 74 programs that meet
159	159	125regional labor market demands and do not duplicate existing programs in the region;
160	160	126 (xvi) support the continuation of state grant programs that provide funding for equipment
161	161	127purchases and facility expansion; and
162	162	128 (xvii) support the continuation of demonstration programs that provide opportunities in
163	163	129vocational-technical education for students unable to secure a seat in an approved Chapter 74
164	164	130program due to lack of enrollment capacity.
165	165	131 SECTION 5. Section 3A of Chapter 70B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
166	166	132Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the number “17” and inserting “19” in place
167	167	133thereof, and further by inserting, after “Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts, Inc.” the
168	168	134following:- “, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc., Alliance for
169	169	135Vocational Technical Education,”
170	170	136 SECTION 6. Chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the
171	171	137following new section: -- 8 of 9
172	172	138 Section 10A. Expansion Grants for Regional Vocational-Technical Schools
173	173	139 (a) In addition to the funding otherwise provided pursuant to this chapter, any regional or
174	174	140county vocational or agricultural school shall, subject to appropriation, receive a one-year
175	175	141expansion grant in any fiscal year in which its foundation enrollment increases by more than two
176	176	142percent over its foundation enrollment for the previous fiscal year.
177	177	143 (b) The amount of said expansion grant shall be calculated by multiplying the number of
178	178	144additional students in its foundation enrollment, over its foundation enrollment for the previous
179	179	145fiscal year, by its per-student foundation budget amount. The per-student foundation budget
180	180	146amount shall be calculated by dividing the district’s foundation budget amount for the current
181	181	147year by its foundation enrollment for the prior fiscal year.
182	182	148 (c) The department shall annually solicit information from all regional and county
183	183	149vocational and agricultural schools as needed to estimate the amounts required to fund expansion
184	184	150grants in the coming fiscal year for all such schools, and the department shall request
185	185	151appropriation of the amount required to fully fund such expansion grants.
186	186	152 (d) If the amount appropriated for expansion grants in a fiscal year is less than the amount
187	187	153required to fully fund such grants, then each eligible regional or county vocational or agricultural
188	188	154school shall receive a share of the appropriated funds proportional to the share that its expansion
189	189	155grant, calculated pursuant to subsection (b), constitutes of the total amount of expansion grants
190	190	156for all schools, pursuant to said subsection.
191	191	157 SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, to meet the
192	192	158expenditures necessary in carrying out section 1, the state treasurer shall, upon receipt of a
193	193	159request by the governor, issue and sell bonds of the Commonwealth in an amount to be specified 9 of 9
194	194	160by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate, $3,000,000,000. All
195	195	161bonds issued by the commonwealth, as aforesaid, shall be designated on their face
196	196	162Commonwealth Vocational-Technical Education Expansion Act of 2023, and shall be issued for
197	197	163a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the
198	198	164general court pursuant to section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution;
199	199	165provided, however, that all such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2057. All interest
200	200	166and payments on account of principal on such obligations shall be payable from the General
201	201	167Fund. Bonds and interest thereon issued under the authority of this section shall, notwithstanding
202	202	168any other provision of this act, be general obligations of the Commonwealth.