Bill would bar school personnel from transporting students to medical appointments without parental consent; sponsors cite staff protection

Representative Christine Perez testified to the Senate Education Committee on House Bill 231, which would prohibit school district personnel from transporting students to medical or mental-health appointments, visits, or procedures without parental consent, and would require school districts to publish emergency-health protocols.

Perez said the bill is intended to protect both students and school personnel by making transport responsibilities clear and by prompting districts to develop written emergency protocols. "This would expand on the injury or illness policy to make it clear that the responsibility for transport is in the hands of the parent or the guardian and not the responsibility of school personnel," she said.

The testimony distinguished nonemergency transport (addressed by the bill) from emergency response, which typically requires calling 911. Perez told senators that many local policies were outdated; she cited examples of district policies dating to 2008 or earlier and said some districts lacked up‑to‑date written protocols for emergencies or for staff responsibilities.

Committee members asked whether the sponsor had consulted state emergency-management officials; Perez said she had not consulted Homeland Security and Emergency Management but had spoken to local districts and to contacts in Massachusetts who had formal emergency protocols and response teams. Senators also asked whether the bill required districts to adopt an emergency policy; Perez said the bill's language references existing emergency-protocol exceptions and that the measure is intended to encourage clearer district policies for both nonemergency transport and emergencies.

Several senators and witnesses asked what problem the bill was intended to solve and whether it was prompted by incidents in the sponsor's district. Perez said her experience in emergency and critical care and the need to protect staff and children motivated the legislation; she said teachers and substitutes told her they welcomed clearer district policies.

Witnesses who spoke during the hearing reiterated concerns about scope and necessity and asked whether the measure addressed existing statute. No formal votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard public comment and questions and did not take final action at the session.