H4217
An Act to ensure fair due process in special education disputes
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- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill aims to improve fairness and due process for families involved in disputes regarding special education services in Massachusetts. It seeks to ensure that students with disabilities and their families have a more equitable process when disagreements arise about the services they receive. The bill focuses on strengthening the procedures used to resolve these disputes, providing greater clarity and protection for those involved. The emergency preamble indicates the need for immediate action to address this issue.
Key provisions
- Requires schools to provide more detailed explanations of decisions regarding special education services.
- Establishes clearer timelines for dispute resolution processes.
- Enhances the ability of parents to participate effectively in meetings and hearings.
- Strengthens the role of independent educational evaluations.
- Mandates training for school staff on due process rights.
Who is affected
- Students with disabilities
- Parents of students with disabilities
- School districts
- Special education administrators
- Educators
Notable changes
- The bill’s emergency declaration signifies the urgency of improving special education dispute resolution.
- It clarifies the process for requesting and obtaining independent evaluations.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
Cosponsors
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
John J. Marsi
Marc T. Lombardo
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.4217 194th (Current)
An Act to ensure fair due process in special education disputes
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4217) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to special education disputes. Education.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida Status: Referred to House Committee on Rules
Emergency Preamble
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith ensure fair due process in special education disputes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
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Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 6 actions for Bill H.4217
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 6/12/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Education |
| 6/16/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 11/10/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1 |
| 11/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-03:25 PM in B-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 2/12/2026 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently |
| 3/5/2026 | House | Discharged to the committee on House Rules |
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