Rep. Amore bill calls for out-of-district reimbursement to East Providence Schools for Bradley Hospital program

State House – The House Finance Committee has heard legislation introduced by Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) that would reimburse the East Providence School District for out-of-district use of Bradley Hospital’s Children’s Residential and Family Treatment Program.
The legislation (2016-H 7265) would provide that for any child attending the East Providence campus of Bradley Hospital, the child’s residence district and/or sending district would be responsible for reimbursement to the school department of the city of East Providence for any monies paid to Bradley Hospital after application of any state aid.
“The state reimbursement for these students has not increased in nearly a decade, and the cost of transportation, in-district special education services, and out-of-district special education services has placed an undue burden on the East Providence School Department and taxpayer,” said Representative Amore. “This bill aims to protect East Providence taxpayers by ensuring that they are not paying for the expenses that should rest with the CRAFT participant’s sending district.”
The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Helio Melo (D-Dist. 64, East Providence), Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) and Joy Hearn (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence). A companion bill (2016-S 2145) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Daniel Da Ponte (D-Dist. 14, East Providence).