Bill
S 416
Expands access by treating recovery high schools as regional schools for transportation reimbursements (subject to appropriation), reducing transport barriers for youth with SUD.
Status (key dates)
- Filed/Introduced (Senate): 1/11/2025 (Senate Docket No. 330); read and referred 02/05/2025.
- Committee activity: Referred to Education (and at points Finance/rules); public hearing scheduled 06/03/2025.
- Legislative disposition: SUBSTITUTED BY A3516 on 06/05/2025 (A3516 to proceed in place of S.416).
Purpose and intent
- The bill is intended to expand practical access to recovery-focused secondary education by treating "recovery high schools" as regional schools for the narrow purpose of state transportation reimbursements. The objective is to reduce transportation barriers for youth with substance use disorder so they can attend recovery high schools.
Key provision(s)
- Amends Section 91 of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws (as in the 2018 Official Edition) by adding a new subsection (f):
- “For the purposes of transportation reimbursements only, a recovery high school shall be considered a regional school, subject to appropriation.”
- The change is limited in scope to transportation reimbursement classification; it does not, on its face, alter governance, enrollment, or other legal definitions of regional schools outside of transportation funding.
Who would be affected
- Students: Youth with substance use disorder who attend recovery high schools would potentially have improved access if transportation reimbursement is provided.
- Recovery high schools: Schools that serve students in recovery could qualify for transportation reimbursements as if they were regional schools.
- Local school districts and regional school districts: Districts transporting students to recovery high schools could seek reimbursement under the regional-school transportation rules.
- State budget/treasury: Reimbursements are “subject to appropriation,” meaning any fiscal impact depends on legislative appropriation decisions.
Fiscal and procedural implications
- Funding is not automatic — reimbursement eligibility is established, but actual payments require a separate appropriation by the Legislature. The ultimate cost would depend on number of students, route needs, and the reimbursement rate set by existing transportation formulas.
- Because S.416 was substituted by A3516, further action and any final language will be determined through the companion/house bill (A3516) going forward.
Notes/limits
- The bill’s effect is narrowly targeted to transportation reimbursements only; it does not create new mandates for school districts to provide transportation or expand other statutory regional-school authorities.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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