SENATE DOCKET, NO. 298        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 344

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Dean A. Tran

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing school transportation to homeless children.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Dean A. Tran

Worcester and Middlesex

 

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

1/30/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 298        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 344

By Mr. Tran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 344) of Dean A. Tran and Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation relative to reimbursement for transportation costs for homeless students.  Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 245 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act providing school transportation to homeless children.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 16C the following section:-

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 20, 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 1 fiscal year.