Bill > S680

This bill proposes to amend Chapter 15A of the General Laws by adding a new section that directs the board of higher education to establish a tuition remission program for employees of organizations that provide social services programs under contract with the commonwealth, as well as their spouses. Tuition remission, in this context, means a reduction or waiver of tuition fees. This program aims to provide these benefits for courses taken at any public community college, state college, or the University of Massachusetts, and these benefits should be comparable to those offered to commonwealth employees and their spouses. The bill also clarifies that "social services programs" will be defined as specified in a particular section of a previous act, and mandates that the board of higher education consult with the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of elder affairs when developing these tuition remission programs, also considering the administrator of the existing tuition remission program operated by the Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers, Inc.