SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1944        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1151

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kathleen O'Connor Ives, (BY REQUEST)

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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 municipal transparency.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1944        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1151

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to municipal transparency.

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

Chapter 40 section 50: Annual Reports for Cities and Towns; copy to the state library

An Act relative to Annual Reports for cities and towns, an amendment to chapter 40 section 50

To amend by adding the word “city” to read as follows “city or town shall annually, on or before the last day of August” substituting “August for May” and the word “city” be added to “be withheld form the city or town.”

A copy to the Historical Commission of Amesbury

Acts relative to Annual Reports for Cities and Towns; copy to the state library amending chapter 40, Section 50; another creating Chapter 40, section 50A

Purpose to ensure transparency and secondly to maintain the historical integrity, thirdly o let the taxpayers know what they paid for during the previous fiscal year and more.   All communities’ city or town shall file annual reports to the state library and state archives need be.

Chapter 40 section 50A: Annual Reports for Cities and Towns; copy to the state library

One or more copy of the annual report and of any special report of a city or town shall annually, on or before the last day of August be transmitted by the city and town clerks to the state library and state archives need be, and until such transmission the publications distributed by the commonwealth shall be withheld from the cities and towns.

All cities and towns shall be required to compile annual reports for all budgetary departments, elective and appointive boards and commissions subject to the open meeting law: the legislative branch its measures and all votes of appropriations and financing, rules, schedule of fees and business conducted at its regularly scheduled meetings; the executive branch, a summary of the fiscal years significant event and reports of all offices relative fiscal year concluded on June 30.  In addition to the copies filed with the state library, both the city/towns clerks office hold a copy as well as the public library, or any other place designated by charter or by vote of the municipal council and or town meeting, including notification to the municipal corporation’s historical commission.

The municipal corporation must appropriate sufficient monies to print enough copies for all local officials involved in the local government and generate an electronic copy within its website provide one is maintained by the corporation; the appropriation residing within both the budgets of the legislative body, the municipal council and/or town meeting, and the executives, mayor or board of Selectmen, the amount apportioned proportionately, and its compilation coordinated by the President or moderator of the legislative body, and the mayor and board of Selectmen or their designees.

This act shall be by Emergency Preamble and take effect immediately with the first annual report filed and completed by the next August 31; and shall supercede any chapter that neglects boards or commissions to file annual reports with the state library.

Chapter 40 section 50: Annual Reports for Cities and Towns; copy to the state library

An Act relative to Annual Reports for cities and towns, an amendment to chapter 40 section 50

To amend by adding the word “city” to read as follows “city or town shall annually, on or before the last day of August” substituting “August for May” and the word “city” be added to “be withheld form the city or town.”

A copy to the Historical Commission of Amesbury