SENATE DOCKET, NO. 290        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 315

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joan B. Lovely

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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 recovery high schools.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 290        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 315

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 367 OF 2021-2022.]

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 recovery high schools.

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

Section 91 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsections (a) through (d), inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following new subsections:-

Section 91. (a) The term ''Recovery High School'' shall mean a public high school operated by a school district or educational collaborative specifically designed for students impacted by substance use, mental health or trauma providing: (1) a comprehensive academic and social/emotional curriculum as outlined by the department of elementary and secondary education and (2) a structured plan of recovery.

(b) A school district shall transfer the state average foundation budget per pupil to a Recovery High School for a student meeting the following criteria: (1) the student is currently enrolled in the district or currently resides in the municipality in which the district is located; (2) the student is considered by a clinician, as defined by 105 CMR 164.006, to be clinically appropriate, using the criteria as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, V; and (3) the student meets all matriculation criteria as outlined by the sending district and the department of elementary and secondary education, with the determination of academic eligibility based on existing documentation provided by the district. The district and the Recovery High School shall arrange to confer a diploma when a student is enrolled in a Recovery High School and completes state and district-mandated graduation requirements,

(c) A Recovery High School shall submit to the department of elementary and secondary education data considered necessary by the department to evaluate each student's academic performance. A Recovery High School shall also submit to the department of public health data regarding each student's recovery.

(d) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of public health and the department of mental health, shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement this section.