Section 146 Mount Ida Campus Study

(a) Notwithstanding and general or special law to the contrary, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, shall study the feasibility of establishing a Massachusetts school of health sciences education and center for health care workforce innovation at the Mount Ida campus in the city of Newton.

(b) The study shall consider, but shall not be limited to: (i) options to construct, improve, renovate, enlarge or equip facilities at the Mount Ida campus to create multi-disciplinary instructional spaces; (ii) resources required to advance innovative training and professional development across the various health care sectors; (iii) opportunities to collaborate with public and private partners on educational offerings, including the establishment of new certificate, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree programs; (iv) opportunities to create partnerships with vocational and secondary schools in the commonwealth; (v) a faculty pipeline program to address shortages in full-time and part-time faculty in the health sciences at institutions of higher education; (vi) opportunities to recruit a more diverse and inclusive workforce and address disparities in the health care system; and (vii) opportunities to leverage funds from health care employers to support operations at the Massachusetts school of health sciences education and center for health care workforce innovation at the Mount Ida campus.

(c) As part of the study, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, in consultation with the executive office, shall solicit input from the following individuals and organizations: the joint committee on health care financing; the secretary of administration and finance; the secretary of labor and workforce development; the commissioner of higher education; the health policy commission; the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.; the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.; the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc.; Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc.; Massachusetts Home Care, Inc.; The Massachusetts Medical Society; the Massachusetts Nurses Association; the Service Employees Industrial Union, Local 1199; the Home Care Aide Council; and the Disability Policy Consortium, Inc.

(d) Not later than December 31, 2022, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst shall submit a report detailing the results of the study, along with any legislative or budgetary recommendations necessary to implement its findings, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on higher education.