Bill > H4782

This bill makes several changes to how education collaboratives, which are organizations that help school districts share resources and services, operate in Massachusetts. Primarily, it redefines the role of the representative from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the collaborative's board of directors from a voting member to a liaison, and it removes the requirement for articles of incorporation to be approved by the Department of Revenue. The bill also establishes a new regional structure for education collaboratives, dividing the state into no more than six regions, with each region designating a collaborative as a regional liaison for three years to identify needs, develop policies, and coordinate services with the state department and other educational entities, with the state providing grants to support these liaisons. Additionally, the bill allows the board of elementary and secondary education to designate a lead collaborative in each region for specific state initiatives and promotes the use of education collaboratives by the department for procuring services and programs, potentially making them eligible for federal and state grants. Finally, education collaboratives may be authorized to provide services to developmentally disabled individuals over 22, subject to approval from the board of directors and the secretary of health and human services.