SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2922        FILED ON: 4/22/2020

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward J. Kennedy

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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 relative to school transportation vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Edward J. Kennedy

First Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2922        FILED ON: 4/22/2020

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation relative to school transportation vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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

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An Act relative to school transportation vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to which is to provide forthwith for the distribution of necessaries during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Commonwealth, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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

Until such time as the Governor orders that public and private schools in the Commonwealth shall reopen, Section 56 of Chapter 41 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby temporarily suspended in order that school districts may continue to honor existing vendor contracts pertaining to school transportation, food services, and certain other contracts that are deemed essential by the superintendent of schools in the school district; provided that school transportation vendors and food service vendors maintain the same number of employees that they employed prior to the public health crisis and state of emergency. 

If the vendor has reduced the number of employees through furloughs or layoffs due to the state of emergency and the closing of schools, school districts and/or municipalities are not required to pay the vendor for the employees who have been furloughed or laid off. The number of employees that a vendor employs pursuant to a contract with a school district or municipality shall be verified by the vendor on a bi-weekly basis, 

This act shall sunset with the lifting of the state of emergency and the resumption of school in the Commonwealth.