Rep. Hannah Kane

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to adjust how school districts calculate funding for special education students who move during the school year. Currently, districts lose budget support if a student transfers after April 1, but this change extends the deadline to March 1 to help districts retain funding for the remainder of the academic year. The update directly affects school districts in Massachusetts that serve students with special needs who relocate mid-year. By shifting the cutoff date, the legislation aims to provide more financial stability for districts managing these transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Massachusetts school districts to charge fees for transporting students in grades 7 through 12 who live outside the district but attend local vocational or agricultural schools. The fee amount cannot be higher than what is charged to residents attending in-district schools, and families earning at or below 300% of the federal poverty level are exempt from paying. By amending existing state law, the legislation provides school districts with the authority to recover transportation costs for these specific out-of-district students.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an Educational Mandate Task Force to review state laws and regulations that impose requirements on public schools and districts in Massachusetts. The task force will consist of eleven members, including legislative leaders, the state superintendent of education, and representatives from various school administration associations. Its primary goal is to identify outdated, duplicative, or inconsistent mandates and reporting forms, with a specific aim to streamline these processes and potentially create a single master reporting form. The group must hold at least one public hearing and submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the legislature within 12 months of its first meeting.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to remove the term "children born out of wedlock" and replace it with "nonmarital children and parentage of children," aiming to ensure all children receive equal legal rights regardless of their parents' marital status. It establishes a public policy that every child must have the same protections under the law, irrespective of the parents' gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. By updating the title of Chapter 209C and adding a new section, the legislation seeks to eliminate legal distinctions based on how a child was conceived or the family structure of their parents.

By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3498) of Carole A. Fiola, Hannah Kane and others for legislation relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund to support retired police dogs in Massachusetts. The fund will be managed by the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security and will be financed through state appropriations, grants, gifts, and investment earnings. Money from the fund will be given directly to non-profit organizations within the state to cover the care and medical needs of these retired animals, and the secretary must ensure the funds are used by reputable groups. Each year, the fund administrator must submit a report detailing how much money was received, spent, and remaining to the state legislature and relevant committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to equalize the pay for correction officers and jail officers working in Massachusetts county sheriff's offices with those employed by the state Department of Correction. It achieves this by reclassifying these local officers into the same job titles and salary grades as their state counterparts, with the salary difference eliminated gradually over three fiscal years. During this transition period, the legislation temporarily exempts these specific officers from collective bargaining negotiations regarding base salaries, though all other labor agreements and duties remain unchanged. Once the three-year adjustment period ends, standard collective bargaining rules for base salaries will fully apply again to these officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Massachusetts law enforcement and correctional officers to complete new training on interacting with individuals on the autism spectrum and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The training, which must be established by municipal police training committees by January 1, 2024, focuses on de-escalating situations and providing positive responses without adding to existing mandatory training hours. It also mandates the creation of specific guidelines for how officers should handle interactions with these individuals who are victims, witnesses, or suspects in criminal matters. The legislation applies to a wide range of agencies, including city and town police, state police, university police, and correctional facility officers.

By Representatives Hawkins of Attleboro and Berthiaume of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2338) of James K. Hawkins, Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr., and others relative to benefits for county sheriffs' correction officers and jail officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

By Representative Khan of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2351) of Kay Khan and others relative to police training in appropriate interactions with persons on the autism spectrum and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Public Safety and Homeland Security.