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Bill would offer one-time $5,000 awards to Mass. alumni of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and Commonwealth Corps
Summary
Representative Irina DeRosa urged the Joint Committee on Higher Education to support H 14‑21, a framework to provide a one‑time $5,000 educational award to eligible Massachusetts residents who served in national service programs and work in nonprofit or government roles.
Representative Irina DeRosa presented H 14‑21, the John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship Program, proposing a one‑time $5,000 educational award for Massachusetts residents who are alumni of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or Commonwealth Corps and subsequently work in nonprofit or government service.
DeRosa described the bill as a framework to incentivize citizen service and to broaden access to service for students who are priced out of volunteer programs. “If you do a year of AmeriCorps or 2 years of Peace Corps, you get less than $10,000,” she said, arguing that small state incentives could improve access for lower- and moderate‑income students.
During questioning, committee members asked about estimated take‑up rates and the eventual fiscal cost; DeRosa acknowledged that the program would require a financing plan and that staff and ways and means would need to estimate potential costs. She said the bill is intended as a long‑term framework and welcomed follow‑up discussions with committee staff.
Ending: The committee heard testimony and indicated the proposal would be considered among broader student‑debt and service policy discussions.
