SENATE DOCKET, NO. 775        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1709

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jennifer L. Flanagan

_________________

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 to strengthen impact, efficiency and accountability in the government-nonprofit partnership.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 775        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1709

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1645 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

An Act to strengthen impact, efficiency and accountability in the government-nonprofit partnership.

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.  Chapter 7 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:—

Section 63. (a) There shall be a special commission on government-nonprofit partnerships.  The commission shall study and report on the critical issues affecting nonprofit and government contracts and collaborations.  Its review can include but shall not be limited to: (i) methods to improve efficiency in grant and contracting systems utilized by the commonwealth and nonprofit entities; (ii) the feasibility of eliminating any redundant, unreasonable, or unnecessary laws, regulations or policies that negatively impact nonprofit-government contracting or funding; (iii) methods to improve the government-nonprofit partnership by increasing the use of data and technology to inform decision-making and oversight; and (iv) current contracting and payment processes between the commonwealth and nonprofit entities, including a review of late payments and their impacts on service delivery and the operations of nonprofit entities.

(b) The commission shall include: 1 person who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as co-chair; 1 person who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person who shall be appointed by the president of the senate who shall serve as co-chair; 1 person who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the secretary of administration and finance or a designee; the chief of the nonprofit and public charities division of the attorney general’s office or a designee; 1 person who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network; 1 person who shall be appointed by the Associated Grant Makers; and 3 persons who shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be an executive of a non-profit organization with annual revenues of $5 million or less, 1 of whom shall be an executive of a non-profit organization with annual revenues of greater than $5 million and less than $25 million, and 1 of whom shall be an executive of a non-profit organization with annual revenues of $25 million or greater.  Each individual appointed to the commission shall possess experience or expertise with respect to one more of the following areas: (i) the management and operations of nonprofit organizations; (ii) the management and operations of state government; (iii) the relationship between nonprofits and state government; (iv) social innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise; (v) qualitative and quantitative research and analysis; or (vi) the management and operation of businesses.

(c) The commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than January 1, 2018.