Bill > H470

This bill establishes a special 10-member commission to investigate and study the costs of mandatory school busing incurred by school districts, including costs related to charter schools, private schools, regional schools, and special education transportation for both in-district and out-of-district students. The commission will also examine potential cost-saving measures such as using routing software, inter-district collaboration, charging fees, employing fuel-efficient vehicles, outsourcing transportation, and exploring state reimbursement for these costs. The commission's members will include representatives from the senate and house of representatives, including chairs of education and ways and means committees, the state auditor, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and appointees selected from nominees provided by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. The commission is tasked with reporting its findings and legislative recommendations to the general court by December 31, 2010.