The bill amends sections 16-24-1 and 16-24-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-24, which focuses on the education of children with disabilities. Key insertions include a new requirement for school committees to provide special education services to children with disabilities, ensuring they receive a free and appropriate education regardless of their enrollment in public or private schools. It clarifies that parents who place their children in private schools are responsible for tuition costs unrelated to the child's disability, while public school districts must cover services related to the child's disability as outlined in their individual education plan (IEP). The bill also establishes that children with disabilities are entitled to benefits until their twenty-first birthday and mandates local educational agencies to inform families of their rights as they approach this age.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions effective July 1, 2025, regarding the responsibilities of school districts when a child with a disability transfers to another district for special education services. The receiving district must report back to the sending district quarterly or upon significant changes, and the sending district's financial responsibility will be limited to the lower cost of services if the receiving district's costs are less than the sending district's per pupil expenditure. The bill also outlines guidelines for educational aid and reimbursement for students in foster care or residential facilities, ensuring that school districts do not pay more than the rates charged by service providers. A significant change is the limitation on the financial responsibility of a student's home district for special education services, which aims to improve communication between districts and adjust the financial dynamics of educating and transporting students with disabilities. The act will take effect upon passage.