By Representatives Roy of Franklin and Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 684) of Jeffrey N. Roy, Marjorie C. Decker and Carlos González relative to providing for the availability of disposable menstrual products in schools. Education.
HD 70 allows school districts to opt out of the state's non-income-based free lunch program, enabling them to redirect those funds to other uses. If a district participates, parents or guardians can also opt their child out of the free lunch program, requiring the student to pay for meals at the district's set price. Schools would not count non-participating students toward funding calculations for the free lunch program, freeing up those funds for other district purposes. This bill directly affects public school districts and families with children in K-12 schools participating in the state's free lunch initiative.
This bill requires health insurance policies (including group plans, hospital services, and health maintenance contracts) to cover medically necessary treatments for students with disabilities, as specified in their individual education plans or similar federal special education documents. It directly affects students with disabilities whose care is outlined in these plans and their families, ensuring insurers cannot deny coverage based on disability. The law mandates that all qualifying insurance policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2024, provide equal coverage for these treatments without discrimination. It applies broadly to all relevant insurance products under Massachusetts law, aligning with existing federal special education requirements.
This bill (HD 2479) requires school leaders (principals, superintendents) to first try alternative approaches like mediation or restorative justice before suspending or expelling a student. It mandates documenting why these alternatives weren't used for specific incidents, unless the student poses an immediate threat of serious harm to others. The law also requires schools to implement broader, school-wide programs focused on re-engaging students, such as trauma-sensitive learning models. Exceptions allowing immediate suspension remain only for documented safety risks or severe disruptions to learning.
This bill (HD 2628) allows trained school staff to administer glucagon to students experiencing severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when a nurse is unavailable, directly affecting students with diabetes and their school staff. It requires written parental permission and mandates that schools train non-nurse staff to provide this emergency treatment without them facing liability for good-faith actions (except gross negligence). The bill also clarifies that such staff are not practicing nursing when administering glucagon. The Department of Public Health must issue these regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
This bill (HD 1308) updates school diabetes care protocols by allowing licensed school nurses to delegate low blood sugar treatment and symptom monitoring to trained health aides under direct supervision. It specifies that insulin delivery (via pump or syringe) and parenteral medication must still be administered only by licensed school nurses, as required by existing regulations. The bill directly affects students with type 1 diabetes, school nurses, and health aides, requiring proper training and supervision for delegated tasks. It also mandates that students with diabetes be placed in classrooms with existing instructional support staff, and permits glucose monitoring in classrooms by trained nurses if parents and physicians approve.
This bill requires public schools (grades 6-12) and colleges/universities to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone and text number on all new or replacement student ID cards. It directly affects schools and higher education institutions that issue student IDs, mandating the inclusion of this lifeline contact information. The requirement applies to IDs issued on or after July 1, 2025, with existing non-compliant cards allowed to be used until depleted. The law aims to make crisis support more accessible to students by integrating it into routine student identification.
This bill requires all public schools to teach mental health education as a required subject for every grade, emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health. It directly affects public school students, school committees, and private schools seeking approval. Key provisions mandate that private schools must include mental health education in their curriculum to receive approval, matching the requirements for public schools. The law updates existing education statutes (Ch. 71 Sec. 3 and Ch. 76 Sec. 1) without altering religious teaching or transportation policies.
This bill requires Massachusetts public schools to ensure at least 50% of lunch entrées (meat/meat alternate items) served as part of federal reimbursable meals are fiber-rich foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. It also limits ultra-processed foods (industrial foods with additives like high-fructose corn syrup) to no more than 20% of weekly entrée offerings. School food providers must publicly share monthly nutrition data to verify compliance, with a three-year phase-in period for new contracts or by the 2033-2034 school year. The law directly affects school food management companies and public schools across Massachusetts.
This bill (SD 1949) requires all public and approved private K-12 schools in Massachusetts to teach mental health education as a mandatory subject. It directly affects students and schools by mandating that mental health education be integrated into the curriculum across all grades, covering the connection between mental and physical health. The key provision amends education laws to add this requirement, ensuring schools include it alongside existing health education. It does not change physical education exemptions but clarifies that approved private schools must also implement mental health education in their curriculum.
