By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 747) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to allow for graduate student workers to have access to paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance. Financial Services.
By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1451) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation to provide for reserve funds for school districts. Municipalities and Regional Government.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1441) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the acceptance of Advanced Placement scores for college credit. Higher Education.
By Representative Walsh of Peabody, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 748) of Thomas P. Walsh and Paul McMurtry that school administrators consider alternatives to suspension or expulsion of certain students. Education.
This bill (H 4456) modifies Massachusetts licensure requirements for mental health counselors to directly benefit school counselors. It allows school counselors (already licensed as specialized instructional support personnel) to apply their existing graduate coursework and supervised clinical experience toward mental health counselor licensure, including credits from programs under 60 credits. Applicants must still complete two additional years of supervised clinical experience (with specific supervision requirements) and evidence-based suicide prevention training. The bill explicitly permits school counselors to take the mental health counselor licensure exam, streamlining their path to expanded practice.
H 4429 is a supplemental appropriations bill for Massachusetts' fiscal year 2025, adding funding to existing state budgets rather than creating new programs. It allocates specific sums to current operations, including $700,000 for the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, $12 million for school meals, $2.05 billion for MassHealth payments, and $18.5 million for public health hospitals. The bill provides these supplemental funds from the General Fund or Transitional Escrow Fund, with most amounts available through June 2026, to support ongoing state services and address unanticipated needs. It directly affects state agencies and programs already funded in the annual budget, not new policy initiatives.
Senate, September 2, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 949) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Vanna Howard, Michael D. Brady, James K. Hawkins and other members of the General Court for legislation to create a Green and Healthy Public College and University Building Planning Commission that will make recommendations for public higher education buildings relative to energy efficiency, spatial adequacy, life safety, accessibility, indoor environmental quality and public health, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2594).
This bill requires school districts to provide bus drivers, monitors, and attendants with written safety reports for students with disabilities transported on special vans. The reports must detail specific impairments (like sensory, communication, or physical needs) that could affect safety during transport, but only if required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or with written parental consent. It directly affects school districts, transportation staff, and students with disabilities by standardizing safety communication while respecting existing IEP requirements and parental rights.
By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 947) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation relative to certain higher education records under the public records law. Higher Education.
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 456) of Bruce E. Tarr, Madeleine Elizabeth Jackman , Patrick M. O'Connor, Shirley B. Arriaga and others relative to requiring instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of defibrillators for high school graduation. Education.
