Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S834 Compare Versions

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22 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 990 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
33 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 834
44 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
55 _________________
66 PRESENTED BY:
77 Jason M. Lewis
88 _________________
99 To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
1010 Court assembled:
1111 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
1212 An Act to increase access to higher education for disadvantaged students.
1313 _______________
1414 PETITION OF:
1515 NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex 1 of 2
1616 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 990 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
1717 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 834
1818 By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 834) of Jason M. Lewis for
1919 legislation to increase access to higher education for disadvantaged students. Higher Education.
2020 [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
2121 SEE SENATE, NO. 845 OF 2021-2022.]
2222 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2323 _______________
2424 In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
2525 (2023-2024)
2626 _______________
2727 An Act to increase access to higher education for disadvantaged students.
2828 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
2929 of the same, as follows:
3030 1 SECTION 1. (a) As of October 1, 2026, institutions of higher education in the
3131 2Commonwealth shall not use standardized test scores for purposes of determining student
3232 3admission to undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
3333 4 (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to examinations required for determining licensure,
3434 5certification or any profession where an examination is required by a national accreditation
3535 6organization.
3636 7 SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner of the department of higher education shall convene a
3737 8working group with representatives from both public and private institutions of higher education
3838 9in the Commonwealth to develop, support and promote alternative methods for determining
3939 10student admission to undergraduate and graduate degree programs that better promote equity and 2 of 2
4040 11opportunity for students from all backgrounds, especially students of color and those from other
4141 12disadvantaged backgrounds.
4242 13 (b) Annually, not later than December 31, the commissioner shall submit a report
4343 14detailing their progress and indicating any barriers to the clerks of the house of representatives
4444 15and the senate and the chairs of the joint committee on higher education.
4545 16 SECTION 3. section 2 of this act is hereby amended by striking subsection (b)
4646 17 SECTION 4. Section 3 of this act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.