Section 2F Fair Share

For an operating transfer to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund established in <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6c/Section4" target="_blank">section 4 of chapter 6C</a> of the General Laws to fund transit improvements at regional transit authorities and supportive transit improvements across the commonwealth; provided, that not less than $56,000,000 shall be expended by regional transit authorities to support operational enhancements and improvements, including expanded service hours, weekend services, and route expansions, in addition to services supported through item <a href="/appropriations/transportation/15956370">1595-6370</a>; provided further, that funds provided under this item in fiscal year 2024 to provide more equitable distribution of contract assistance to regional transit authorities under <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXII/Chapter161b/Section23" target="_blank">section 23 of chapter 161B</a> of the General Laws shall be incorporated into each recipient's baseline funding calculation for fiscal year 2025; provided further, that funds not allocated under the preceding proviso shall be expended for operating assistance to regional transit authorities based on the following formula: (i) 60 per cent based on total transit ridership as reported on the most recent certified national transit data base report; (ii) 30 per cent based on population of its member communities from the most recent census; and (iii) 10 per cent based on service coverage area determined by the total square miles of its member communities; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended on grants for fare equity programs to be administered by the regional transit authorities; provided further, that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall oversee the distribution of said grants and shall establish grant criteria including, but not limited to, the prioritization of: (a) opportunities for increased ridership; and (b) increased service accessibility to low-income individuals; provided further, that said grants shall be distributed in a geographically equitable manner; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on transportation and the house and senate committees on ways and means including, but not limited to: (1) grant criteria used by the department; (2) a list of grant applicants; (3) a list of successful grant applicants; (4) summaries of successful grant proposals; (5) ridership and fare data for such pilot programs; and (6) details on the mechanisms being utilized to track ridership and fare data for said pilot programs; and provided further, that not less than $4,000,000 shall be expended for grants to transit providers to support expanded mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals through the Community Transit Grant Program<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For an operating transfer to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund established in <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6c/Section4" target="_blank">section 4 of chapter 6C</a> of the General Laws for the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6c/Section4" target="_blank">section 4 of chapter 6C</a> of the General Laws; provided, that a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further appropriation, for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or town under this item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the department to the city or town, not later than June 30, 2025; provided further, that this funding shall be distributed using a formula based on each municipality's population, locally owned road miles and employment; and provided further, that not less than $24,000,000 shall be distributed to rural communities using a formula to be developed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For an early literacy initiative directed by the secretary of education, in consultation and coordination with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the commissioner of early education and care, to be known as Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3; provided, that said program shall provide grants, programming and materials to increase the number of public schools and licensed early education and care providers in the commonwealth providing evidence-based literacy instruction to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3; provided further, that grants may support activities including, but not limited to: (i) the adoption and implementation of high quality curricular materials by public schools and districts and early education program providers; (ii) the provision of technical support, coaching, and professional development to maximize educator impact and improve student learning of literacy skills for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3, including the support of required staff for the development and implementation of the program by the granting agencies; (iii) an acceleration of the program review of educator preparation programs approved by the department of elementary and secondary education; (iv) the coordination and alignment of assessment and screening, curriculum, and professional development across the departments of early education and care and elementary and secondary education; and (v) other professional learning initiatives and supports related to literacy assessment, measurement, and instruction for specific groups of learners or specific evidence-based materials; provided further, that grant recipients may include, but not be limited to: (i) public schools and districts and licensed early education and care programs providing pre-kindergarten instructional services; (ii) the University of Massachusetts; (iii) state universities and community colleges; and (iv) other educator preparation programs; provided further, that not later than November 30, 2025, the secretary of education shall provide a summary of the current and planned allocations of funds for each program funded through this item to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means and that such report shall include: (i) a list of grant recipients; (ii) grants awarded delineated by recipient; (iii) any matching funds or services contributed by grant recipients or program participants; (iv) the purposes of the grants; and (v) a detailed breakdown of the purposes and amounts of administrative costs charged to this item; and provided further, that any unexpended funds in this item shall not revert but shall be made available until August 30, 2026<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For grants to support available capacity, support workforce, and address operational costs within the early education and care sector; provided, that grants shall be available to child care programs licensed or otherwise funded by the department of early education and care; provided further, that the distribution of grants shall prioritize equity and early education programs with higher percentages of state subsidized enrollment; provided further, that such grants shall be provided to child care providers whose enrollment includes at least fifty percent of children with a state subsidy; provided further, that funds from this line item shall be expended in coordination with funds from item <a href="/appropriations/education/early-education-and-care/30001045">3000-1045</a>; provided further, that the department shall collect data from participating programs, including but not limited to: (i) the number of enrolled children; (ii) number of educators employed; and (iii) a breakdown of the funding from the operational grants spent to recruit and retain employees; and provided further, that the department shall report such data to the joint committee on education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance on a quarterly basis<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For a child care provider rate reserve to sustain reimbursement rate increases from prior fiscal years and to further increase such rates for subsidized early education and care providers; provided, that rate increases funded from this reserve shall support salaries, benefits and stipends for professional development of early educators, as well as increase access to care for families; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item may be used to increase the reimbursement rate for all such providers using a methodology established by the department; provided further, that funds may be expended for increasing the daily add-on rate for comprehensive early education services for children with active cases at the department of children and families; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds between this item and items <a href="/appropriations/education/early-education-and-care/30003060">3000-3060</a> and <a href="/appropriations/education/early-education-and-care/30004060">3000-4060</a>, as necessary, for this purpose, under an allocation plan that shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days before any such transfer; provided further, that $45,000,000 shall be used to annualize rate increases implemented in fiscal year 2024; and provided further, that $20,000,000 shall be used to fund additional rate increases for center-based and family child care providers in fiscal year 2025<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For the development of a statewide birth through higher education framework for mental and behavioral health which may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) guiding principles and strategies related to providing social emotional supports; (ii) mental and behavioral health supports; (iii) suicide prevention; and (iv) relevant professional development in educational settings; provided, that the framework shall be developed in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services and the department of mental health, experts in childhood mental health, educators including those from early education and care programs, elementary and secondary public schools, and public institutions of higher education, students, families, and other stakeholders as appropriate; and provided further, that funds may be expended to implement the framework and relevant mental and behavioral health supports for students<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts students enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education in any public institutions of higher education; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on the administration of the scholarship program; provided further, that the commissioner of higher education shall adopt guidelines governing the eligibility and the awarding of financial assistance; and provided further, that funds may be expended for an office of higher education success and completion within the department of higher education to support: (i) data collection and tracking; and (ii) the development of best practices for higher education student success and degree completion including, but not limited to, the alignment of community college programming with labor market demands<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For MassReconnect, a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to students from the commonwealth who: (i) are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public state community college; (ii) are age 25 or older as of the first day of classes; (iii) have not previously earned a college degree; and (iv) are enrolled in at least 6 credits; provided, that funds shall be used to cover any remaining tuition and fees, books and supplies due for any eligible student after all other sources of federal and state grant aid have been exhausted; provided further, that funds from this item may be expended on student support services, administration and marketing of said scholarship program; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>