Section 16C 1/2. The school district shall provide transportation for children and youth experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; and, the commonwealth shall reimburse such district the cost to provide said transportation minus the amount of any Federal allocation to districts to defray the excess cost of providing transportation to students experiencing homelessness. The state treasurer shall annually, on or before November twentieth, pay to school districts, subject to appropriation, the sums required for such reimbursement and approved by the commissioner of education.

School districts may establish a Homeless Children and Youth School Transportation Reimbursement Fund. Reimbursements made by the commonwealth pursuant to this section may be deposited into the fund and may carry forward for 1 fiscal year. Reimbursements made by the commonwealth pursuant to this section may be deposited into the fund to immediately reimburse the school department for said costs; provided that any unexpended funds shall be allowed to be carried forward for one fiscal year.