HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4120        FILED ON: 3/24/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3865

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward F. Coppinger

_________________

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 the educational needs of students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Edward F. Coppinger

10th Suffolk

3/24/2021

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

3/30/2021

Jay D. Livingstone

8th Suffolk

4/1/2021

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

4/1/2021

Barry R. Finegold

Second Essex and Middlesex

4/1/2021

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

4/1/2021

David Biele

4th Suffolk

4/2/2021

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

4/8/2021

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

4/13/2021

Carmine Lawrence Gentile

13th Middlesex

7/4/2021

Jeffrey N. Roy

10th Norfolk

7/7/2021

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

7/12/2021

Walter F. Timilty

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

9/14/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4120        FILED ON: 3/24/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3865

By Mr. Coppinger of Boston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Edward F. Coppinger and others relative to the educational needs of students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the educational needs of students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide additional education for certain students who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 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:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 98. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any student scheduled to graduate at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year from a district high school or charter school, as defined in section 89, or their parent, legal guardian or custodian may opt-in to an additional academic year if the student or their parent, legal guardian or custodian determines that the student’s education has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(b) Notwithstanding section 12C of chapter 71B or any other general or special law to the contrary, a student who will attain the age of 22 during the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year and has been receiving special education pursuant to said chapter 71B or their parent, legal guardian or custodian may opt-in to an additional academic year until attaining the age of 23 if the student or their parent, legal guardian or custodian determines that the student’s education has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SECTION 2. Section 98 of chapter 71 the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3.  The department of elementary and secondary education shall reimburse municipalities for eligible costs associated with providing additional education services to certain students whose education was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to section 98 of chapter 71 of the General Laws for 2 years’ following the termination of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency.

SECTION 4. Section 2 shall take effect on August 31, 2022.