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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1421 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 332
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jacob R. Oliveira
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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
resolve:
Resolve relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the
Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and WorcesterAdam Scanlon14th BristolLydia EdwardsThird Suffolk2/2/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/13/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex3/3/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex3/6/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1421 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 332
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 332) of Jacob R. Oliveira,
Adam Scanlon, Lydia Edwards, Patrick M. O'Connor and other members of the General Court
that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including
members of the General Court) relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special
education in the Commonwealth. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the
Commonwealth.
1 Resolved, there shall be a special commission to study Chapter 71B and make
2recommendations toward the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of Special Education
3throughout the Commonwealth, and make recommendations to consider all matters pertaining to
4the improvement of fiscal health and educational outcomes. The commission shall examine the
5impact and efficacy of special education programs in the Commonwealth.
6 The special commission shall consist of the house chair of the joint committee on
7education or designee, the senate chair of the joint committee on education or designee, the
8commissioner of education or designee, one member of the house of representatives to be
9appointed by the speaker, one member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president, and
10six members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the
11Massachusetts administrators for special education, one of whom shall be a representative of the
12Massachusetts association of school committees, one of whom shall be a representative of the 2 of 3
13Massachusetts association of school superintendents, one of whom shall be a member of a local
14parents' advisory council, one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts school
15psychologists association, one of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts
16elementary school principals association.
17 Said special commission shall:
18 (i) examine the universe of students eligible for said programs as well as educational
19programs and finances of school districts and municipalities;
20 (ii) perform a comparative analysis of the number of children receiving special education
21and the costs of these services in the Commonwealth;
22 (iii) examine current transportation services for children receiving special education and
23alternatives available to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve the quality of said
24services;
25 (iv) examine ways to increase coordination among school districts for the provision of
26higher quality cost-effective services, including the regionalization of special education
27programs;
28 (v) examine the system of evaluating, placing, and monitoring students receiving special
29education, including out-of-district placements;
30 (vi) examine the system of appeals and monitoring of school district compliance with
31state and federal special education laws administered by the department of education;
32 (vii) examine the cost trends to local and regional school districts of providing special
33education services, the capacity of said districts to fund such services within the resources 3 of 3
34required or made available by chapter seventy of the General Laws and the effects of said
35services on the programmatic and fiscal planning and educational accomplishments of said
36districts; and
37 (viii) study issues surrounding the classroom discipline of children with special needs,
38including the impact, if any, of proposed or enacted federal laws relative to said issues, and
39identify modifications to laws and regulations of the commonwealth that would be necessary to
40comply with said proposed or enacted federal law changes.
41 Said special commission shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and
42means the results of its study, and recommendations for implementing findings, by filing the
43same with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and the joint committee on
44education on or before January 1, 2024.