AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMONWEALTH TO REIMBURSE QUALIFYING MUNICIPALITIES FOR FEDERAL MILITARY RESERVATION STUDENTS
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith reimbursements to qualifying municipalities for federal military reservation students, 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:
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sections:-
Section 95. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
“Federal military reservation”, the Joint Base Cape Cod and Hanscom Air Force Base.
“Federal military reservation students”, children who are dependents of military or other federal personnel who reside on a federal military reservation and who attend public schools in any district.
“Reimbursement aid”, funds from the commonwealth paid to municipalities to defray costs incurred by a municipality for federal military reservation students; provided, however, that reimbursement aid shall supplement funds already received by municipalities for the costs of educating federal military reservation students, including federal impact aid under 20 U.S.C. 7701 et seq., and state aid under chapter 70.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commonwealth shall pay reimbursement aid to qualifying municipalities. The total amount of reimbursement aid paid to qualifying municipalities shall be at least $1,300,000. The minimum payment made to a municipality for federal military reservation students shall equal the amount paid to the municipality in fiscal year 2014. Any increase in funding shall be disbursed through a ratio established by the department. The ratio shall be based on the proportionate amount of reimbursement aid paid to the municipality in fiscal year 2014.
Section 96. Each public school shall have a policy regarding substance use prevention and the education of its students about the dangers of substance abuse. The school shall notify the parents or guardians of all students attending the school of the policy and shall post the policy on the school’s website, if a website exists. The policy and any standards and rules enforcing the policy shall be prescribed by the school committee in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees of a charter school.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of July 1, 2014.
Approved, July 22, 2014.