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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2437 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3983
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Kip A. Diggs
_________________
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 relative to establishing a workforce training trust fund for emerging technologies.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kip A. Diggs2nd Barnstable1/16/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2437 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3983
By Representative Diggs of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3983) of Kip
A. Diggs for legislation to establish a workforce training trust fund for emerging technologies.
Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to establishing a workforce training trust fund for emerging technologies.
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. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting, after
2section 2JJJJJJ, the following section:-
3 Section 2KKKKKK. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the
4commonwealth a separate fund known as the Emerging Technologies Workforce Training Trust
5Fund, hereinafter referred to as the fund. The fund shall be administered by the department of
6career services established in section 1 of chapter 23H in collaboration with the Commonwealth
7Corporation Foundation.
8 (b) The fund shall be credited with: (i) revenue from appropriations or other money
9authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) interest
10earned on money in the fund; (iii) contributions from private sector entities, including technology
11firms, foundations and other organizations; and (iv) federal grants and other gifts, grants and
12donations for the establishment and expansion of workforce training programs, including 2 of 3
13programs in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and renewable energy technologies.
14Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and any money
15remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.
16 (c) The Commonwealth Corporation Foundation, in consultation with the department of
17career services, shall make expenditures from the fund for the following purposes:
18 (i) providing grants to institutions of higher education, vocational technical schools and
19workforce training organizations for the development and implementation of training programs
20in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and renewable energy technologies;
21 (ii) sponsoring scholarships, paid internships and award programs to support individuals
22pursuing careers in blockchain, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and renewable energy
23technologies with a focus on individuals from underrepresented populations;
24 (iii) partnering with private companies to create work-based learning opportunities,
25including apprenticeships and on-the-job training;
26 (iv) funding public awareness campaigns to promote careers in emerging technologies
27and available training opportunities;
28 (v) developing regional workforce strategies in collaboration with regional employment
29boards to address specific labor market needs; and
30 (vi) partnering with technology firms in the commonwealth to reduce state funding
31burdens and demonstrate industry buy-in.
32 (d) The Commonwealth Corporation Foundation shall prepare an annual report on the
33activity of the fund that shall include: (i) the number and type of grants awarded; (ii) the number 3 of 3
34of participants trained and employed as a result of the fund’s programs; (iii) the amount of
35private sector contributions leveraged; and (iv) any recommendations for improvements to the
36fund’s programs. The annual report shall be submitted, not later than December 31, to the: chairs
37 of the joint committee on advanced information technology, the internet and
38cybersecurity; chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development; house and
39senate committees on ways and means; and clerks of the house of representatives and senate
40 (e) The annual report shall be published on the Commonwealth Corporation Foundation’s
41website and distributed to stakeholders.
42 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.