1 of 1 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2361 FILED ON: 1/19/2023 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 570 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Adam Scanlon and Michael P. Kushmerek _________________ 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 student transportation. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Adam Scanlon14th Bristol1/19/2023Michael P. Kushmerek3rd Worcester1/19/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/19/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/31/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/7/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol3/13/2023 1 of 2 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2361 FILED ON: 1/19/2023 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 570 By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 570) of Adam Scanlon, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to student transportation. Education. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act relative to student transportation. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 7C of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby repealed. 2 SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 3Section 7C, the following new section:- 4 Section 7B 1/2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall maintain a 5registry of all vendors providing school transportation services. 6 SECTION 3. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 7Section 68, the following new section:- 8 Section 68A. A school district shall provide all parents and guardians of students the 9opportunity to decline school transportation on an annual basis. Such offers shall be made not 10less than 30 days prior to the start of the academic year. 2 of 2 11 Should a parent or guardian of a student decline transportation for their student, the 12school district shall not be obligated to provide transportation to said student for said academic 13year as designated by the parent or guardian. 14 SECTION 4. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 15Section 16C, the following new section:- 16 Section 16C ½. A regional school district shall provide all parents and guardians of 17students the opportunity to decline school transportation on an annual basis. Such offers shall be 18made not less than 30 days prior to the start of the academic year. 19 Should a parent or guardian of a student decline transportation for their student, the 20regional school district shall not be obligated to provide transportation to said student for said 21academic year as designated by the parent or guardian. 22 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department 23of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of transportation, 24shall conduct a study of student transportation collaboratives and consortiums. Said study shall 25examine what school districts would be best served by implementing a collaborative or 26consortium and how such a collaborative or consortium could be implemented in a district. The 27department shall file its report with the chairs of the joint committee on education, the chairs of 28the joint committee on transportation, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways & 29means, and the house and senate clerks on or before July 1, 2024.