HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2166        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 498

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to increase accountability in school choice reimbursement..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 12B of chapter 76 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:–

  (g) The state treasurer is further directed to disburse to the receiving district, from the School Choice Tuition Trust Fund established by section twelve C, an amount equal to each student's school choice tuition as defined in subsection (f); provided, however, that each public school district which admits children under the provisions of this section shall certify to the state treasurer the number of such children attending its public schools, number of students which have been placed in an out-of-district placement, the city or town of residence of each such child, the annual amount of tuition for each such child and the total tuition owed to the district based on full or partial attendance, itemized by the amount attributable to each city or town of residence; and, provided further, that such certification shall be made on October first of each year and April first of each year. Each school district submitting a certification to the state treasurer shall also submit a copy of said certification to the department of education and to the sending district. Said department and sending district may review said certification to determine that the amount of the individual tuition charged for each child is in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall inform the state treasurer of any errors. The department shall also, on a post-audit basis, verify the admission and attendance of the number of children certified by each school district, and shall prescribe strict penalties for inaccuracies, including the reimbursement of all funding and accrued interest for any students who fail to enroll, drop out, or transfer from the receiving district to a non-public school.