HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5401        FILED ON: 12/5/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Richard M. Haggerty

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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 health and sanitation in schools.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5401        FILED ON: 12/5/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to health and sanitation in schools.

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

Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sections:-

Section 102. Any public, private or charter school in the commonwealth, prekindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, shall provide, in places where food is served or consumed school, portable post stands with an attached non-touch hand sanitizer dispenser. Hand sanitizer dispensers shall: (i) be approved by the commissioner of public health pursuant to section 2 of chapter 111; (ii) have attached a 2-sided sign stating: PLEASE USE TO CLEANSE HANDS BEFORE EATING; and (iii) be placed conspicuously at the entrances of places where food is served or consumed in the school. Each school shall have at least 2 sanitization stands and an additional stand for each occupancy limit in increments of 25 at places where food is served or consumed.

Section 103. (a) No student, teacher, administrator, employee or vendor of a public or charter school in the commonwealth shall enter or remain on the premises of a school when: (i) knowing they have a contagious illness or disease; (ii) having a body temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher: or (iii) displaying non-allergy related cold or flu symptoms such as: constant sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, coughing or profuse sweating.

(b) Any student exhibiting such symptoms shall: (i) be sent to the nurse’s office of the school; and (ii) have their parent or guardian contacted about student’s symptoms and for transportation from school.