SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2619        FILED ON: 1/31/2025

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

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bruce E. Tarr

_________________

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 Foundation Budget Review Commission.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

3/24/2025


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2619        FILED ON: 1/31/2025

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

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bruce E. Tarr and Bradley H. Jones, Jr. for legislation relative to meeting and charge of the Foundation Budget Review Commission.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to the Foundation Budget Review Commission.

 

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

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary The Foundation Budget Review Commission prescribed by Ch. 70, S. 4  of the General Laws shall convene not later than January 2, 2026, provided that, in addition to the review of the items identified in said section, the commission shall also consider the challenges presented for school districts with declining enrollment, the increased costs associated with social-emotional learning and mental health, the costs associated with special education, and the methodology employed to calculate required local contribution by municipalities, provided further that, in establishing the scope of its operations, the commission shall conduct no less than 3 public hearings in geographically diverse locations in the commonwealth, which shall accommodate remote electronic participation.  The commission shall file a final report, including legislative recommendations, no later than September 30, 2026, with the clerks of the House and Senate, the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Executive Office of Education  provided that the commission may file interim reports from time to time in the same manner.