HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1173        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1648

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shaunna L. O'Connell and Geoff Diehl

_________________

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 enhancing public awareness of tax and fee increases.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

1/18/2017

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

2/3/2017

Kate D. Campanale

17th Worcester

2/3/2017

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

1/24/2017

James J. Lyons, Jr.

18th Essex

1/26/2017

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/3/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1173        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1648

By Representatives O'Connell of Taunton and Diehl of Whitman, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1648) of Shaunna L. O'Connell, Geoff Diehl and others for legislation to require the committees on Ways and Means of both branches of the General Court to conduct certain hearings on measures that would increase or expand any new or existing taxes or fees.  Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act enhancing public awareness of tax and fee increases.

 

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

Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 38B the following section:-

Section 38B½. The committee on ways and means of each branch of the general court shall conduct no less than 5 public hearings on bills reported favorably by the committee that purport to establish, increase or expand any new or existing taxes or fees; provided that hearings on local bills will not be required.  The committees shall give 3 days’ public notice prior to holding such public hearings. Each hearing shall be conducted in a distinct geographical region of the commonwealth.