1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1581 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 412
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Liz Miranda
_________________
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 providing for the creation of a permanent commission relative to the education of
American Indian and Alaska Native residents of the Commonwealth.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond SuffolkJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/10/2025 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1581 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 412
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 412) of Liz Miranda and Joanne
M. Comerford for legislation to establish a permanent commission on American Indian and
Alaska Native education. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 318 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act providing for the creation of a permanent commission relative to the education of
American Indian and Alaska Native residents of the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 159 the following section:-
3 Section 159A. There shall be a permanent commission on American Indian and Alaska
4Native education, which shall consist of 17 persons as follows: 1 person appointed by
5Department of Early Education and Care, 1 person appointed by Department of Elementary and
6Secondary Education, 1 person appointed by Department of Higher Education, 2 persons
7appointed by Department of Public Health, 1 person appointed by Department of Mental Health,
81 person appointed by Department of Youth Services, 1 person appointed by Department of
9Veterans' Services, 1 person appointed by Division of Prevention and Wellness, 1 person 2 of 4
10appointed by Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, 7 persons appointed by
11Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs in consultation with tribal governments and
12intertribal organizations. Members of the commission shall be drawn from diverse racial, ethnic,
13religious, age, sexual-orientation and socio-economic backgrounds from throughout the
14commonwealth. Members shall be considered special state employees for purposes of chapter
15268A of the General Laws. The commission shall be an independent agency of the
16commonwealth and shall not be subject to the control of any other department or agency.
17 Members shall serve terms of 2 years and until their successors are appointed. Vacancies
18in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the
19balance of the unexpired term. Appointments shall be made in consultation with tribal
20governments and intertribal organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and
21November 1 of each year through an open application process using a uniform application that is
22widely distributed throughout the state. The commission shall elect annually from among its
23members a chair. The chair of the commission may designate on an annual basis 1 or more
24commission members as vice-chairs of the commission, and may appoint on an annual basis
25members of the commission as chairs of advisory committees on high school education, higher
26education, human services and youth. The chair of the commission may create other advisory
27committees as needed after consultation with the commission. The members of the commission
28shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for any usual and
29customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
30 The commission shall investigate the use of resources from both the public and private
31sectors to enhance and improve the ability of state agencies to provide educational opportunities
32and improving educational outcomes for all American Indian and Alaska Native students in 3 of 4
33order to further tribal self-determination and to help ensure that students have an opportunity to
34learn their heritage languages and histories and to receive complete and competitive educations
35that prepare them for college, careers, and productive satisfying lives. In furtherance of that
36responsibility, the commission shall: (1) work in partnership with the department of education
37and the department of public health to create school-based and community-based programs
38focusing on suicide prevention, violence intervention, and the promotion of zero-tolerance
39policies regarding harassment and discrimination against American Indians and Alaska Natives;
40and (2) make recommendations about policies and programs supporting American Indians and
41Alaska Natives on an ongoing basis to the department of education, the department of public
42health and the executive office of health and human services. The commission shall annually, on
43or before June 2, report the results of its findings and activities of the preceding year and make
44recommendations relating to the concerns of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the
45governor and to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.
46 The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: (1) to use
47voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations that
48may from time to time be offered and needed; (2) to recommend policies and make
49recommendations to agencies and officers of the commonwealth and local subdivisions of
50government to effectuate its purposes; (3) to select an executive director and to acquire adequate
51staff to perform its duties, subject to appropriation; (4) to establish and maintain offices that it
52considers necessary, subject to appropriation; (5) to enact by-laws for its own governance; (6) to
53appoint members to regional chapters of the commission; and (7) to hold regular, public
54meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may consider necessary. 4 of 4
55 The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance as
56the commission may require. The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts,
57donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. These
58funds shall be deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by the
59treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance
60with law.