HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3494        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3339

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve [Title].

Resolved, that a special commission to consist of house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue; 1 member to appointed by the senate president; 1 member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 member to be appointed by the house minority leader; the secretary of the executive office of transportation and public works or his designee; the commissioner of the Massachusetts highway department, or her designee; and 1 member to be appointed by the governor is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to extending sponsorship rights for bridges across the commonwealth.

The commission’s study shall include analysis of the potential revenues to be raised by the commonwealth in extending sponsorship rights for bridges.

The commission shall also make recommendations concerning bridge sponsorship, including (a.) guidelines regarding the duties of and benefits to the sponsor, including any relating to the placement of advertisements or promotional objects; (b.) a schedule of fees for extending said sponsorship rights; and (c.) whether collected revenues should be placed (1.) into a general transportation fund, (2.) into an account specifically earmarked to repair bridges that are structurally deficient, particularly any that are ineligible for federal funding, (3.) another fund, or (4.) some combination of multiple funds.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect by filing them with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives on or before June 30, 2009.  The commission may issue preliminary or interim reports to the general court before that date.