Bill
HD 528
Creates formal governance and usage rules for the Reggie Lewis Center at RCC, with separate funding, public-use access and market-rate nonpublic use plus biennial audits.
Overview
- Bill Number: HD 528
- Title: An Act relative to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center
- Sponsor: Representative Chynah Tyler (Boston, 7th Suffolk)
- Introduced: January 9, 2025 (House Docket No. 1464)
- Status: Proposed bill (filed for consideration in the 194th General Court; similar matter previously filed in 2023-24)
- Note: The user’s input lists November 29, 2025 as a date of introduction, but the bill text shows an effective filing date of January 9, 2025.
Purpose and Intent
- To establish formal governance and a usage framework for the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College (RCC).
- To define who may use the center, under what conditions, and how fees are set.
- To ensure financial separation and accountability for the center’s operating expenses through separate appropriations and biennial audits.
Key Provisions
Establishment and Definitions
- Creates the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College (Center), to be maintained for public purposes.
- Defines key terms:
- Board: Roxbury Community College Board of Trustees
- Center: the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center
- College: Roxbury Community College
- Use for public purposes: includes use by public high school track programs, abutting residents, community at large, and RCC students/faculty/alumni
- Use for nonpublic purposes: includes leasing or renting for commercial entertainment and other nonpublic activities
Management and Operations (Board responsibilities)
- The RCC board is responsible for management and operation, including:
- Establishing user fees
- Entering into agreements with the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association, public groups, and nonpublic groups for nonpublic use
- Setting rules and regulations for use by high school programs, abutting residents, RCC community, and nonpublic groups
- Prioritizing uses and scheduling with input from an advisory committee
- Entering into vendor agreements for concessions and other operational needs
Access and Fee Structure
- Public high school track programs and RCC receive use without charge.
- Public use is on a user-fee basis for members of the public.
- Nonpublic use is at market-rate, provided the center is not being used for public purposes.
Financial and Oversight Provisions
- Center’s annual operating expenses are to be kept separate from RCC’s general appropriations, with a distinct line-item appropriation.
- Expenses are to be audited biennially by the state auditor.
Impact and Implications
Who is Affected
- Public high school track programs
- Roxbury Community College students, faculty, staff, and alumni
- Abutting residential community members
- General public and nonpublic groups seeking to use the facility
Potential Impacts
- Increased access for public school programs and RCC stakeholders
- Formal mechanism for community use while enabling revenue through nonpublic use
- Fiscal accountability via separate appropriation and biennial audits
- Clear governance structure and scheduling priorities, with advisory input to balance needs of schools, residents, RCC community, and other users
Procedural Notes
- Requires passage by the Massachusetts Legislature to take effect.
- Reflects ongoing interest (and prior similar proposals) in leveraging the Reggie Lewis Center for public benefit while supporting RCC operations.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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