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S 1241

Enacts "Ildefonso Romero's law" to establish the felony offense of aggravated assault

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo

Requires MA corrections to provide 18-25 inmates at least 4 hours daily of out-of-cell, age-appropriate education (HiSET, college credit/readiness, workforce training).

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · S 1241

Summary — S.1241 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)

Title: An Act related to educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults
Filed: January 14, 2025
Primary sponsor: Sen. Pavel M. Payano (First Essex)
Status (from provided record): Introduced; referred to committees (Judiciary / Codes); hearings scheduled (June 3, 2025)

Note: The materials supplied for this request include conflicting and extraneous metadata (federal‑style titles, large lists of U.S. Senate cosponsors, and unrelated bill text). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text actually filed as Senate No. 1241 by Sen. Payano concerning educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults.

Purpose / Intent

To require the Massachusetts Department of Correction and county correctional facility administrators to expand and standardize age‑appropriate educational programming for incarcerated “emerging adults” (ages 18–25), with an emphasis on high school equivalency, college readiness/credit, workforce training, and congregate out‑of‑cell learning time.

Key provisions

  • Defines target population as “emerging adults” ages 18–25 incarcerated in state prisons or county correctional facilities.
  • Requires each facility to make available at least one educational program leading to a high school equivalency certificate (explicitly references HiSET) and associated testing opportunities.
  • Requires classes that can award credit applicable to high school graduation.
  • Mandates that each facility include specialized, age‑appropriate educational classes for emerging adults — whether or not they already hold a high school degree or equivalency — including:
    • college readiness and college credit courses, and/or
    • workforce readiness and vocational classes.
  • Directs facilities to maximize access to community‑based workforce development, vocational, and employment training opportunities “as available.”
  • Minimum programming time: all emerging adults must have the opportunity to access at least four hours of programming daily, at least five days per week.
    • At least four of those daily hours must be out‑of‑cell, congregate programming (i.e., group classes without barriers).
    • In‑cell learning via tablets should be maximized and may count as additional (supplemental) time beyond the required four hours of out‑of‑cell programming.
  • Encourages innovation and partnerships: preference given to program delivery innovations involving nonprofits and educational institutions that specialize in serving emerging adults, and to engaging staff with lived experience similar to those incarcerated.

Who is affected

  • Primary: incarcerated individuals aged 18–25 in Massachusetts state prisons and county correctional facilities who lack a high school diploma or equivalency — and, more broadly, all emerging adults in custody who could benefit from age‑appropriate programming.
  • Secondary: Department of Correction, county facility administrators, correctional education providers, community colleges, nonprofits, vocational training providers, and facility staff (including potential new hires/trainings).

Implementation and timeline

  • The bill amends Section 48 of Chapter 127 (as revised by prior acts).
  • The commissioner of corrections and facility administrators are assigned operational responsibility to ensure program availability and scheduling.
  • As of the provided record: bill was filed 1/14/2025 and referred to relevant committees; hearings were scheduled for June 3, 2025 (check official legislative docket for current status and subsequent committee actions).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Expected benefits: increased educational attainment (HiSET / high school credits), improved college and job readiness, and potential reductions in recidivism and better post‑release employment outcomes for emerging adults.
  • Operational impacts: facilities may need additional staffing, classroom space, curriculum providers, tablet infrastructure, partnerships with educational institutions and community providers, and funding to meet daily out‑of‑cell requirements.
  • Costs: not specified in the bill text; implementation could require budget appropriations or reallocation of existing resources.
  • Safety/logistics: expanding congregate programming will require adjustments to security protocols and scheduling to maintain facility operations.

Note on document inconsistencies

The supplied packet also contained unrelated federal bill text (a “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025”) and a long list of U.S. Senate cosponsors that do not correspond to the Massachusetts filing. Those materials appear to be erroneous inclusions and are not reflected in this summary of the Massachusetts S.1241 educational bill. For authoritative status and text, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official docket and bill pages.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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