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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2165 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 837
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mark C. Montigny
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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 to establish the Bridge the Gap Scholarship to universalize access to community
colleges.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2165 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 837
By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 837) of Mark C. Montigny for
legislation to establish the Bridge the Gap Scholarship to universalize access to community
colleges. Higher Education.
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 to establish the Bridge the Gap Scholarship to universalize access to community
colleges.
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 . Section 16 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the eleventh paragraph in that section, the
3following:-
4 There shall be a Bridge the Gap Scholarship Program to provide universal access for
5residents of the commonwealth to public higher education through accredited degree programs
6offered at community college institutions under section 5 of this chapter. Such assistance shall
7apply only after all other federal and state financial assistance has been exhausted. To be
8eligible, students must have obtained a high school diploma, or its equivalent, from an institution
9within the commonwealth within the preceding two years, maintain a cumulative 2.5 grade point
10average during their course of study, complete their course of study within three years, and agree
11to reside and work within the commonwealth for at least two years after graduation of such
12course of study or further degree program within the commonwealth. If a student does not fulfill 2 of 2
13the above requirements, the scholarship will be converted into a low interest loan to be
14determined and administered by the department of higher education and Massachusetts
15Educational Financing Authority, established pursuant to section four of chapter fifteen C, with
16exemptions for financial hardship.
17 Each community college shall annually consult with their board of trustees, local
18workforce developments boards, and employers to identify current and future workforce needs
19within such region. Upon identifying such workforce needs, each college shall certify up to five
20programs eligible to qualify under the Bridge the Gap Scholarship Program to promote universal
21access to higher education and workforce readiness. Each college shall annually file with the
22department of higher education those programs certified to receive the Bridge the Gap
23Scholarship.
24 SECTION 2. The department of higher education may promulgate regulations to
25implement this act.