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Bill

S 2683

Creates the federal contract workers assistance program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

Establishes a state pricing structure with a daily cap on private student-transport contracts and a 15-member School Transportation Commission to protect vulnerable students.

REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
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Bill Summary · S 2683

Summary — S.2683: "An Act eliminating predatory transportation pricing of school districts"

At a glance

  • Sponsor (MA): Senator Dylan A. Fernandes. Bill would amend Section 7A of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Core purpose: Require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a transparent pricing structure — including a daily price cap — for private contractor agreements to transport certain pupils (special education, out‑of‑district, and pupils in districts receiving McKinney‑Vento funds), and create a School Transportation Commission to oversee compliance, equity and reporting.
  • Status (per provided record): Filed 4/16/2025; referred to committees; hearing scheduled 12/02/2025. (See “Procedural note” below for inconsistent dates in the record.)

Purpose / intent

The bill seeks to prevent “predatory” or excessive pricing by private school‑transportation vendors by having the state set pricing guidelines and caps, increase transparency and oversight of large contracts, and ensure transportation policy better serves vulnerable students (special education, foster care, homeless/migrant students).

Key provisions

  • Amend Section 7A, Chapter 71 to require the Department to:
    • Establish a pricing structure for contracts between private transportation companies and school committees that includes a daily price cap.
    • Base pricing on factors such as number of students transported daily, miles traveled, and any schedule of rates/wages provided by the commissioner of labor and industries (if furnished).
  • Create a 15‑member School Transportation Commission within the Department to promote fairness, equity and cost transparency. Composition:
    • 4 members from the Department
    • 5 school committee members (appointed by the Commissioner)
    • 3 representatives of school transportation providers (appointed by the Governor)
    • 3 members from advocacy groups for foster care and homelessness issues
  • Commission duties and regulatory authority:
    • Promulgate regulations pursuant to chapter 30A, including guidance on better serving foster care, homeless and migrant pupils.
    • Establish a system to ensure compliance with the pricing structure and cap.
    • Annually (by Sept. 30) review contract compliance; require direct review and approval for contracts exceeding a commission‑determined financial threshold; subject other contracts to audits and reporting.
    • Annually assess the pricing structure’s impact on educational experience and student outcomes; recommend adjustments to the Department.

Who is affected

  • Primary: School districts/school committees in Massachusetts that contract out pupil transportation — especially for special education, out‑of‑district placements, and districts receiving McKinney‑Vento funds.
  • Private transportation contractors: subject to state pricing structure, possible price caps, audits, and direct review of large contracts.
  • Vulnerable students (special education, foster care, homeless, migrant): expected beneficiaries through improved service guidance and oversight.
  • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: new rulemaking, oversight and administrative responsibilities; must host the Commission.

Implementation, timelines & procedural points

  • The bill directs the Department and Commission to promulgate regulations under chapter 30A; specifics (dollar caps, the financial threshold, and exact methodology) are to be set by the Department/Commission and are not specified in the bill text.
  • Annual compliance review deadline: September 30 each year.
  • Provided legislative action records show filing on 4/16/2025 and a hearing scheduled for 12/02/2025; other listed dates/committees appear inconsistent in the supplied record.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Potentially reduces excessive transportation costs for school districts and increases transparency.
  • Could lower contractor revenues or require renegotiation of existing contracts; may prompt legal or contractual disputes if caps change economics.
  • Administrative burden on the Department and newly formed Commission to set rates, run reviews, and perform audits.
  • Effectiveness depends heavily on how the Department defines the cap, the financial threshold for direct review, and enforcement mechanisms.
  • Interactions with collective bargaining, existing contracts, and federal requirements (e.g., special education transportation mandates) may require careful alignment.

Procedural note: The provided dossier contains inconsistent metadata (multiple dates, committees, and federal‑style sponsor list). For final status and exact procedural posture consult the official Massachusetts legislature website or bill tracking system.

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

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