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H 506

An Act relative to youth and athletics

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Shirley Arriaga and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes the PLAY Trust Fund to fund K-8 youth sports, paying fees for families who can't afford them and boosting obesity prevention via increased participation.

Hearing scheduled for 05/06/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
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Bill Summary · H 506

Summary: H 506 — An Act relative to youth and athletics

Overview

H 506, titled “An Act relative to youth and athletics,” proposes creating a dedicated PLAY Trust Fund to support youth sports for K–8 public school students in Massachusetts. The fund would be administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and would provide financial assistance to students and families for sports fees, while also pursuing measures to combat childhood obesity through increased participation in youth sports.

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Hearing: May 6, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, in Committee Room B-2
  • Current status: Referred to the Committee on Education (with subsequent Senate concurrence noted in actions)
  • Primary sponsor: Representative Shirley B. Arriaga

Key Provisions

Establishment of the PLAY Trust Fund

  • Creates a separate, dedicated fund known as the PLAY Trust Fund within the General Laws (Chapter 29, new Section 2KKKKKK).
  • Administered by the DESE commissioner.

Authorized Uses of the Fund

  • Fund youth athletics programming for K–8 public school students across the Commonwealth.
  • Assist K–8 public school students and their families by paying fees related to sports that they cannot afford.
  • Promote childhood obesity prevention by increasing opportunities for children to participate in youth sports.

Funding Sources and Management

  • The fund shall be credited with:
    • Appropriations specifically designated to the fund by the General Court.
    • Gifts, grants, and donations from public or private sources.
    • 1% of the total funds collected from the excise tax on sports wagering operators in the Commonwealth (as provided by Chapter 23N, Section 14).
    • Interest earned on money in the fund.
  • Funds credited to the PLAY Trust Fund shall not be subject to further appropriation.
  • Any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund (i.e., a non-reversion, continuing fund).

Reporting and Transparency

  • Annually, by October 1, the DESE commissioner must report to:
    • The clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives.
    • The Joint Committee on Education.
    • The House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means.
  • Report contents to include:
    • Source and amount of funds received.
    • Expenditures and purposes of those expenditures.
    • Any anticipated remaining revenue from awards.
    • The number of students and families funded.
  • The report must be publicly available on the DESE website.

Affected Parties

  • Public school students in grades K–8 and their families (through fee assistance and program support).
  • School districts across Massachusetts (as recipients/participants in funded activities).
  • DESE and the administration of youth athletics programs.
  • Beneficiaries of sports wagering tax revenue (via the 1% allocation to the fund).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction: February 27, 2025.
  • Referred to the Committee on Education: February 27, 2025.
  • Senate concurrence indicated in legislative actions.
  • Hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025 (1:00 PM–5:00 PM) in Room B-2.

Impact and Considerations

  • Creates a dedicated, non-reverting funding stream aimed at expanding access to youth sports and addressing affordability barriers.
  • Establishes ongoing transparency through annual reporting and public availability of data.
  • The reliance on 1% of sports wagering tax revenue means fund size is contingent on wagering activity, in addition to state appropriations and private gifts/donations.
  • Could influence childhood obesity measures by increasing participation in organized youth athletics.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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