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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 612 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 244
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Joanne M. Comerford
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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 fairly reimbursing local school transportation of foster children.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and WorcesterSusannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/15/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 612 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 244
By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 244) of Joanne M. Comerford
and Susannah M. Whipps for legislation to fairly reimburse local school transportation of foster
children. Education.
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 fairly reimbursing local school transportation of foster children.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10 the
2following section:-
3 Section 10A. (a) The department and the department of children and families shall jointly
4apply for reimbursement from the United States Department of Education, pursuant to any and
5all applicable federal laws, including, but not limited to the Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 USC
6§ 6301, for the costs incurred by a school district for transportation of a child in foster care
7between the foster home and the child’s school of origin, if placement in that school has been
8determined to be in the child’s best interests. The school district shall certify its costs for such
9transportation on a form designated by the department for this purpose and complete the form in
10accordance with the department’s instructions. The department shall transmit any reimbursement
11amounts received from the United States Department of Education to the school district. 2 of 2
12 (b) To the extent that the United States Department of Education does not reimburse the
13commonwealth in full for the certified costs for such school transportation of a child in foster
14care, the department shall reimburse the school district for the balance of the certified costs.