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