FILED ON: 1/9/2014

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3841

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act relative to special elections.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to ensure forthwith timely special elections, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of the commonwealth may add or change any dates relating to functions appurtenant to the special primaries or the election for Representative in the General Court in the 2nd Suffolk Representative District and the 16th Suffolk Representative District, precepts having been issued by the Speaker of the House of Representatives pursuant to section 141 of chapter 54 of the General Laws for April 1, 2014 with a primary to be held on March 4, 2014, as said secretary deems necessary for the orderly administration of the election by providing notice of such change with the rules and regulations division, by posting on his website and by whatever other means he deems appropriate. The deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers to local Registrars of Voters or Election Commissioners for the certification of signatures shall be 5:00 pm on January 27, 2014 and the local election officials shall complete certification by 5:00 pm on January 28, 2014. The last day and hour for filing nomination papers including written acceptance, receipt from the state ethics commission and certificate of voter registration or party enrollment with the state secretary shall be 5:00 pm on January 29, 2014.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary if the date for holding a preliminary or town election or annual town meeting in a municipality within a district having a special state election on April 1, 2014, in accordance with section 1, falls within 30 days before or after such special state election, the town council, in a town having a town council or the board of selectmen in any other town, after consulting with the town clerk, may, by majority vote, establish to conduct such preliminary, election or town meeting to coincide with the date of a special state election.  Any vote to change the date of a local election shall occur at least 35 days before the date of the re-scheduled election.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the special city election in the city of Beverly shall be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014. The polls shall be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. All polls for this election shall be located at the Beverly High School Field House, 100 Sohier Road.  Notification of the changes in polling locations shall be provided by mail although households with multiple voters need only receive one such notice. Notification shall be posted in all regular polling places and published in both local newspapers at least 14 days before the special election. All other dates set forth in the laws pertaining to the election shall apply.

SECTION 4. Section 9 of chapter 211B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new clause:- (xxiv) the court administrator may, subject to the approval of the chief justice of the trial court, apply for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any funds, including grants, bequests, gifts or contributions, from any person. Such funds shall be deposited in a separate account and may be expended by the court administrator without further appropriation in accordance with chapter 29 and any rules or regulations promulgated under that chapter.

SECTION 5. Section 9A of said chapter 211B of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting the following new clause:- (xxiv) the court administrator may, subject to the approval of the chief justice of the trial court, apply for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any funds, including grants, bequests, gifts or contributions, from any person. Such funds shall be deposited in a separate account and may be expended by the court administrator without further appropriation in accordance with chapter 29 and any rules or regulations promulgated under that chapter.

SECTION 6. Sections 1 through 3 of this act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 7. Section 6 of this act shall take effect on April 2, 2014.