Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S278 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1428 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 278
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Barry R. Finegold
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 establishing a special commission to study the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School
13	13	Building Authority.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Barry R. FinegoldSecond Essex and MiddlesexAdam Scanlon14th Bristol1/19/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/21/2023 1 of 3
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1428 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 278
19	19	By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 278) of Barry R. Finegold, Adam
20	20	Scanlon and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish a special commission to study the
21	21	effectiveness of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Education.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE SENATE, NO. 2727 OF 2021-2022.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
27	27	(2023-2024)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act establishing a special commission to study the effectiveness of the Massachusetts School
30	30	Building Authority.
31	31	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
32	32	of the same, as follows:
33	33	1 (a) There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations regarding:
34	34	2(i) the capacity of the Massachusetts School Building Authority program to meet current and
35	35	3future school facilities needs in the commonwealth; and (ii) the equity of the grant funding
36	36	4formula to ensure that all communities can participate in the program.
37	37	5 (b) The commission shall consist of: 2 members appointed by the senate president, 1 of
38	38	6whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on education, and 1 of whom shall serve as
39	39	7co-chair of the commission; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives,
40	40	81 of whom shall be the house chair of the joint committee on education, and 1 of whom shall
41	41	9serve as co-chair of the commission; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 2 of 3
42	42	10member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the secretary of
43	43	11education or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee;
44	44	12the executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority or a designee; 2 members
45	45	13appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a gateway city with
46	46	14knowledge of municipal finance, and 1 of whom shall be an individual with demonstrated
47	47	15expertise in the design and construction of cost-effective school buildings; 2 members appointed
48	48	16by the state treasurer and receiver general, 1 of whom shall be an individual with demonstrated
49	49	17expertise in the design and construction of green buildings, and 1 of whom shall be an individual
50	50	18with demonstrated expertise in public health and indoor environmental quality in school
51	51	19buildings; and 1 person appointed from each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts
52	52	20Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of School
53	53	21Committees, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc.; the
54	54	22Massachusetts Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; the Massachusetts Facilities
55	55	23Administrators Association; the Massachusetts Teachers Association; the American Federation
56	56	24of Teachers, Massachusetts; and the Massachusetts Building Trades Council.
57	57	25 (c) The commission shall investigate and make recommendations on: (i) the current and
58	58	26future need to renovate and rebuild school facilities in the commonwealth and the availability of
59	59	27adequate state and local resources to do so; (ii) the MSBA's existing grant formula and potential
60	60	28modifications to the formula to ensure fairness and equity for all communities; (iii) the alignment
61	61	29of the MSBA's construction cost reimbursement rate relative to the actual cost of construction
62	62	30and other MSBA policies that impact eligible project costs for reimbursement; (iv) incentive
63	63	31percentage points, including, but not limited to, how incentive percentage points are calculated
64	64	32for municipalities that qualify for 80 per cent reimbursement; (v) reimbursement policies for 3 of 3
65	65	33regional technical and vocational schools and how to ensure affordability for all member
66	66	34communities; (vi) reimbursement policies to help the commonwealth achieve its environmental
67	67	35and greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals; (vii) reimbursement policies that support healthy
68	68	36school facilities for students and staff; (viii) whether the MSBA may spend money on equipment
69	69	37or if it is limited to funding for education structures; (ix) whether the MSBA should add
70	70	38incentives for approved chapter 74 educational spaces in programs that align to labor market
71	71	39demand; and (x) any other pertinent issues that relate to ensuring that all students in the
72	72	40commonwealth can attend school in high quality, accessible, safe, healthy, and green school
73	73	41buildings.
74	74	42 (d) The Massachusetts School Building Authority and other state agencies shall make
75	75	43available to the commission in a timely manner any documents, data, and other materials that
76	76	44may be reasonably requested by the commission.
77	77	45 (e) The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the
78	78	46clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on education and the senate
79	79	47and house committees on ways and means not later than December 1, 2023.