SENATE DOCKET, NO. 844        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1688

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

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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 relative to oversight of capital expenditures in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 844        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1688

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1503 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to oversight of capital expenditures in the Commonwealth.

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. (a) The treasurer of the Commonwealth, all quasi-public entities of the Commonwealth and independent authorities of the commonwealth shall make biannual reports on their borrowing practices. These reports shall be submitted to the Secretary of Administration and Finance, the auditor of the commonwealth, the House and Senate chairs of the Committee on Ways and Means, and to the Senate and House chairs of the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures & State Assets. This report shall include all transactions entered into, other than fixed-rate borrowing, during the six month period prior to the report filing deadline. Reports shall be due on the 30th day of April and the 31st day of October in each calendar year. The report shall include all transactions related to derivative financial products. For purposes of this section, derivative financial products shall be defined as financial instruments whose own value is derived from or based upon the value of other assets or on the level of an interest rate index, including, but not limited to a call option on a bond, an interest rate swap, caps, floors, collars, inverse floaters, auction rate securities, or any other financial transaction other than fixed-rate, long term borrowing. This report shall include the terms and conditions of each derivative financial product transaction; the parties involved in negotiating each derivative financial product transaction; copies of all agreements entered into between the parties relative to derivative financial product transactions; the financial impact of each transaction including, but not limited to, the interest rates, fluctuation in interest rates, and payments associated therewith; and a written rationale of the treasurer of the Commonwealth, quasi-public entities of the commonwealth as to how the determination to enter into such a transaction was made. The report shall disclose any and all interactions with legislative agents or registered lobbyists in conjunction with transactions defined in subsection (a); provided further that such report shall also indicate whether the transaction was subject to a negotiated contract or an open bidding process. The report shall be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury by the treasurer, on behalf of the commonwealth; and by the chief financial officers of each quasi-public entity or independent authority of the Commonwealth, and subject to review by the Secretary of Administration and Finance.  The report shall be made available to the public on the treasurer’ website.

(b) Prior to any such transaction described in subsection (a) being authorized, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, in consultation with the State Treasurer, shall submit to the clerks of the House of representatives and the Senate, the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, and the House and Senate Committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures & State Assets, a report indicating that the Secretary of Administration and Finance and the treasurer of the commonwealth approve of such transaction and provide written documentation supporting their recommendation.

(c) The House and Senate Committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures & State Assets shall be authorized to hold oversight hearings regarding the capital programs of the commonwealth; any quasi-public entity; or independent authority of the commonwealth; provided further that the House and Senate Committees on Bonding, Capital Expenditures & State Assets shall have the power to summon witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and compel the production of books, papers, documents and other evidence in connection with the programs authorized pursuant to this act. If the committees shall deem special studies or investigations to be necessary, they may undertake studies or investigations.