HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1550        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2571

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jay R. Kaufman

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a special commission on the tax expenditure budget.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

1/15/2015

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

1/21/2015

Josh S. Cutler

6th Plymouth

1/20/2015

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

11/20/2019

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

11/20/2019

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

11/20/2019

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

11/20/2019

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

11/20/2019

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

11/20/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1550        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2571

By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2571) of Jay R. Kaufman and others relative to reviving the special commission (including members of the General Court) established to study tax expenditure budgets and further regulating tax expenditures.  Revenue.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a special commission on the tax expenditure budget.

 

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. There shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a special tax expenditure commission to review and evaluate all tax expenditures as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 of the General Laws. The commission shall define and identify each tax expenditure that is an inherent part of the normative structure of the tax code and shall review and evaluate all other tax expenditures and recommend regular intervals at which each tax expenditure shall expire unless renewed.  

SECTION 2. (a) The commission shall file a report with the clerks of the house and senate; the chair of the house committee on ways and means; the chair of the senate committee on ways and means; and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue. Said report shall be filed no later than six months from the date of membership appointment.

(b) The report shall include, but not be limited to: a definition of what it means for a tax expenditure to be an inherent and permanent part of the normative structure of the tax code; a list of tax expenditures that qualify as permanent; an analysis of each of the remaining tax expenditures that shall articulate the policy goal of the tax expenditure, its effectiveness and a recommendation for expiration or review at a regular interval. Recommendations for expiration or regular review intervals shall be approved or disapproved by the legislature, but shall not be subject to amendment.

SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue or designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of administration and finance or a designee; the state auditor or a designee; the state treasurer and receiver general or a designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives or a designee; the minority leader of the senate or a designee; the chair of the house committee on ways and means or a designee; the chair of the senate committee on ways and means or a designee; a representative of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; a representative of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; and 2 members designated by the governor, both of whom shall have an expertise in economics or tax policy. Members of the commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days from the effective date of this act.