§ 5B — No cost community college program

[ Text of section added by 2024, 140, Sec. 21 effective July 1, 2024.]Section 5B. (a) There shall be a community college program to provide an approved certificate or associate degree offered by a community college segment under section 5 of chapter 15A. The program shall be available at no cost to students who: (i) are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public community college in the commonwealth; (ii) have completed a free application for federal student aid or an equivalent application for state-funded financial assistance; provided, however, that if the individual is not a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States, the application for financial assistance shall be submitted with an affidavit signed under the pains and penalties of perjury stating that the individual has applied for citizenship or legal permanent residence or will apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence in accordance with federal statute and federal regulations within 120 days of eligibility for such status; (iii) are enrolled in not less than 6 credits; and (iv) have not earned a prior baccalaureate degree or an equivalent certification.(b)(1) A student attending a community college pursuant to paragraph (a) shall not be responsible for the cost of tuition and mandatory fees, subject to appropriation under subsection (c).(2) A student whose household income is at or below 125 per cent of state median income, or other income level established by the department, shall be granted an allowance for books, supplies and other expenses related to attending a community college program pursuant to paragraph (a); provided, however, that said allowance shall not preclude students from receiving assistance through state-funded financial assistance including, but not limited to, MassGrant or MassGrant Plus, subject to any regulations promulgated under this section.The department shall establish guidelines for the purposes of determining eligibility for tuition, fees and such allowance.(c)(1) Subject to appropriation, after calculating a student's financial aid, any remaining tuition, fees and allowances for students eligible under subsections (a) or (b) shall be funded by the commonwealth; provided, however, that a community college shall not increase tuition and fees annually more than the lesser of: (i) the ratio of the value of the implicit price deflator for state and local government purchases in the third quarter of the prior fiscal year to its value in the third quarter of the fiscal year 2 years prior; and (ii) 1.045.(2) The department, in consultation with the community colleges and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a performance-based or outcomes-based formula for the purpose of distributing a portion of the annual state appropriation to community colleges. The department, in consultation with the community colleges and relevant stakeholders, shall revise the formula not less than every 6 years.(d) Each community college shall provide the department with data the department deems necessary to implement this section, including, but not limited to, quarterly reports on costs incurred, delineated by expenditure type and student enrollment.(e) The department may issue rules or regulations to implement this section.