The Massachusetts Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (MA-ACSA)

Massachusetts state companion to ACSA. Extends Division of Professional Licensure recognition under M.G.L. c. 13, Massachusetts Community Colleges, and Workforce Skills Cabinet coordination, with labor-protective provisions.

THE MASSACHUSETTS WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (MA-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Massachusetts General Court, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure / Joint Committee on Revenue / Joint Committee on Higher Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Massachusetts Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (MA-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Court finds that Massachusetts occupational licensure operates through the Division of Professional Licensure under M.G.L. c. 13 and related professional-licensing statutes; that the Board of Higher Education / Department of Higher Education operates under M.G.L. c. 15A; that the Workforce Skills Cabinet coordinates workforce programs; that M.G.L. c. 62 and c. 63 authorize tax credits; and that M.G.L. c. 149 (labor) and M.G.L. c. 151B (fair employment) apply to all employment relationships. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH MASSACHUSETTS LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

(a) “Massachusetts Recognized Merit Credential” or “MARMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Higher Education in coordination with the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development under Sec. 201.
(b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
(c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under the Division of Professional Licensure under M.G.L. c. 13 or related licensing statutes.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Massachusetts Law

(a) Consistent with:

M.G.L. c. 13 (licensing boards).
M.G.L. c. 15A (Higher Education).
M.G.L. c. 62; c. 63 (taxation).
M.G.L. c. 149; c. 151B (labor protections).

TITLE II — MASSACHUSETTS RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

(a) The Commissioner of the Department of Higher Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, shall maintain a Massachusetts Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“MARMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

(a) The Human Resources Division, acting under M.G.L. c. 31 (Civil Service) and M.G.L. c. 30 Sec. 45, shall apply classifications so that a MARMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Massachusetts statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

(a) A new credit is added to M.G.L. c. 62 and c. 63 equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Massachusetts-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is a MARMC or Federal FRAC.
(b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with M.G.L. c. 149 and M.G.L. c. 151B.
(c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
(d) Department of Revenue administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

(a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting MARMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

(a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Massachusetts bills: MA-MEWRA, MA-GT&P, MA-AI-Workforce.