Jennifer Hathcock

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

Requires written safety reports to transport staff for each student with disabilities on special vans, only if mandated by IEP or with parental consent.

Introduced and adopted

Summary: House Bill 4404 — "John's Law" (An Act relative to improved special needs transportation and student safety)

Overview

House Bill 4404 proposes amendments to Chapter 71B of the General Laws to enhance safety considerations for students transported on special transportation vans. The bill adds a new Section 8A, requiring written reports about each student with disabilities who is transported on such vehicles, to be provided by school districts to the responsible transportation staff. The reporting is limited to situations where it is required by a student’s IEP or where a parent/guardian consents in writing.

Purpose and intent

Improve safety for school-age children with disabilities during transportation on special transportation vans by ensuring staff are informed of relevant impairments that could affect safety.

Create a formal, documented process to communicate disability-related considerations to bus drivers, monitors, and qualified attendants.

Key provisions

Definition (Section 8A(a))

“Special transportation van” means a van, bus, or other motor vehicle used exclusively or primarily to transport school-age children with disabilities or other persons with disabilities.

Written report obligation (Section 8A(b))

School districts must provide a written report to each bus driver, monitor, or qualified attendant responsible for transporting a student with a disability on a special transportation van.
The report must identify any sensory, neurological, emotional, communication, physical, intellectual, or health impairments (or combinations) that the district believes may affect safety during transportation.

Conditions for providing the report

The written report is required only if it is mandated by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or if the district has obtained written consent from the student’s parent or guardian.

Placement

The new reporting provision is inserted as Section 8A in Chapter 71B, following existing sections.

Affected parties

School districts and their transportation departments

Bus drivers, monitors, and qualified attendants responsible for transporting students

School-age students with disabilities who ride special transportation vans

Parents/guardians of these students

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: August 25, 2025

Status: Reported favorably by the Committee on Education and referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means

Legislative actions indicate a parallel draft (H.564) circulated on the same date

No funding provision is specified in the text; any costs would arise from compliance with IEP requirements or parental consent

Potential impact

Clarifies reporting duties related to student safety on transportation.

Enhances safety planning by giving transport staff targeted information about individual students.

May increase administrative tasks for districts when IEPs require such reports or parental consent is granted.

Privacy considerations: reports involve sensitive health and disability information and are limited by IEP or parental consent requirements.

This summary reflects the bill’s text as of its August 25, 2025 filing and committee actions.