Massachusetts H 1421: An Act establishing the John F. Kennedy service scholarship program for student debt relief for peace corps, americorps, and commonwealth corps alumni

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2026        FILED ON: 1/15/2025 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1421 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
James C. Arena-DeRosa 
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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 establishing the John F. Kennedy service scholarship program for student debt relief for 
peace corps, americorps, and commonwealth corps alumni. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED: 
James C. Arena-DeRosa 8th Middlesex 1/15/2025 
Kristin E. Kassner 2nd Essex 1/24/2025 
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex 2/19/2025 
Lisa Field 3rd Bristol 9/15/2025 

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2026        FILED ON: 1/15/2025 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1421 
By Representative Arena-DeRosa of Holliston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 
1421) of James C. Arena-DeRosa, Kristin E. Kassner and Carmine Lawrence Gentile for 
legislation to establish a student debt relief grant program.  Higher Education. 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
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An Act establishing the John F. Kennedy service scholarship program for student debt relief for 
peace corps, americorps, and commonwealth corps alumni. 
 
 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 15C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- 
2 Section 30. (a) There shall be within the authority a student debt relief grant program, to 
3be known as the John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship, for Massachusetts residents who have 
4completed a volunteer program with the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Commonwealth Corps. 
5 (b) To be eligible for a grant award under the program, an applicant shall: (i) be a resident 
6of the commonwealth; (ii) have successfully completed at least 1 volunteer program approved by 
7the authority with the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Commonwealth Corps; (iii) be employed by 
8the commonwealth, a municipal government within the commonwealth, an office of the federal 
9government located in the commonwealth or a nonprofit organization located in the 
10commonwealth; and (iv) have an annual income equal to or less than the commonwealth’s 
11annual median income as determined by the authority. 

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12 (c) An applicant who meets the requirements set forth in subsection (b) shall be eligible 
13for a grant award, subject to appropriation, equal to 100 per cent of their outstanding student 
14debt up to the amount of  $5,000. 
15 (d) The authority may promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation 
16of this section.