HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4422

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 26, 2024.

The committee on Education, to whom were referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 570) of Adam Scanlon, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to student transportation, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 584) of Priscila S. Sousa and James C. Arena-DeRosa relative to student transportation costs, the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3570) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier and others relative to reimbursing local school transportation of foster children, and the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3756) of Margaret R. Scarsdale relative to providing for full funding of regional school district transportation, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4422) ought to pass.

For the committee,

DENISE C. GARLICK.

        FILED ON: 2/5/2024

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4422

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to school transportation.

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. Section 7C of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 7C, the following new section:-

Section 7B 1/2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall maintain a registry of all vendors providing school transportation services.

SECTION 3. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 68, the following new section:-

Section 68A. A school district shall provide all parents and guardians of students the opportunity to decline school transportation on an annual basis. Such offers shall be made not less than 30 days prior to the start of the academic year.

Should a parent or guardian of a student decline transportation for their student, the school district shall not be obligated to provide transportation to said student for said academic year as designated by the parent or guardian.

SECTION 4. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 16C, the following new section:-

Section 16C ½. A regional school district shall provide all parents and guardians of students the opportunity to decline school transportation on an annual basis. Such offers shall be made not less than 30 days prior to the start of the academic year.

Should a parent or guardian of a student decline transportation for their student, the regional school district shall not be obligated to provide transportation to said student for said academic year as designated by the parent or guardian.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of transportation, shall conduct a study of student transportation collaboratives and consortiums. Said study shall examine what school districts would be best served by implementing a collaborative or consortium and how such a collaborative or consortium could be implemented in a district. The department shall file its report with the chairs of the joint committee on education, the chairs of the joint committee on transportation, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways & means, and the house and senate clerks on or before July 1, 2025.