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S 406

Relates to exceptions from registration requirements for nonresident pharmacies in certain cases

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Samra Brouk and 3 co-sponsors

DESE, with recovery high school principals and DPH, must analyze costs and enrollment criteria for recovery high schools and report findings by June 30, 2025.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 406

Summary — S.406 (2025): An Act Relative to Recovery High Schools

Note: The bill text provided addresses recovery high schools. The header/title in the supplied metadata referring to nonresident pharmacies appears inconsistent with the bill language below; this summary follows the bill text concerning recovery high schools.

Main purpose

Direct the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), working with recovery high school principals and the Department of Public Health (DPH), to examine the costs and enrollment criteria associated with recovery high schools and to report findings to legislative committees by a fixed deadline.

Key provisions

  • Requires DESE, in consultation with principals of the five recovery high schools in the Commonwealth, to:
    1. Examine costs associated with sending students to a recovery high school (as defined by G.L. c.71, §91(a)).
    2. Determine the average cost per pupil at recovery high schools in Massachusetts.
    3. Consult with DPH to determine whether enrollment should require a medical diagnosis of “substance use disorder or dependency, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV‑TR.”
  • Requires DESE to submit its findings to the chairs of:
    • House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means
    • Joint Committee on Education
    • Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
  • Report deadline: not later than June 30, 2025.
  • Enacted “notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary” (i.e., directs DESE to perform these tasks regardless of other statutory constraints).

Who would be affected

  • DESE and DPH (charged with analysis and consultation).
  • Principals and administrators of the five recovery high schools (required consultees).
  • Students and families considering or enrolled in recovery high schools — potential impact on admission criteria and funding.
  • School districts and municipal or state funding bodies — information on cost-per-pupil could inform budget or reimbursement decisions.
  • Legislative committees receiving the report, which may consider further policy or funding actions.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Provides data to inform state policy on funding, access, and eligibility requirements for recovery high schools.
  • The bill contemplates whether clinical diagnosis (per DSM‑IV‑TR language) should be an enrollment precondition — a policy change that could affect student eligibility, confidentiality and intake procedures.
  • Use of the DSM‑IV‑TR (an older edition) is specifically referenced; this choice may raise questions because later DSM editions exist.
  • The June 30, 2025 deadline creates a short timeframe for DESE/DPH analysis and consultation.

Procedural status (selected)

  • Introduced: February 5, 2025.
  • Referred to Committee on Education (and other committee entries in the record); a hearing was scheduled for July 8, 2025.
  • Sponsor/Presenter: Senator Joan B. Lovely (bill text); sponsors listed in provided metadata include multiple legislators.

If you want, I can produce suggested legislative or technical amendments (for example, updating the DSM reference to the current edition, clarifying cost categories to be examined, or extending the reporting deadline).

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

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