FILED ON: 3/1/2018

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2322

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act establishing the MassMade Program.

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 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following section:-

Section 10A½. (a) The Massachusetts office of business development shall establish a MassMade program. The program shall identify, connect and support businesses that: (i) produce consumer goods in the commonwealth; (ii) identify obstacles to conducting business in the commonwealth; and (iii) act as a resource for consumers seeking consumer goods made in the commonwealth. The Massachusetts office of business development may consult with and seek input from interested stakeholders and shall work with entities, including MassMade businesses, regional economic development organizations, small business associations, chambers of commerce, the supplier diversity office, the Massachusetts marketing partnership and the office of consumer affairs and business regulation to collect and provide business and product information related to MassMade businesses. All MassMade program information shall be readily accessible and free to the public.  

(b) For purposes of this section, “MassMade businesses” shall mean any entity that: (i) produces a consumer good including, but not limited to, food and beverage products in the commonwealth; (ii) is headquartered in the commonwealth or has a principal place of business in the commonwealth; (iii) possesses a certificate of good standing from the department of revenue; and (iv) seeks to join the MassMade program.

(c) The Massachusetts office of business development may expend such funds as may be necessary for the MassMade program and as may be appropriated for the program. The Massachusetts office of business development may accept federal funds or private gifts and grants to assist in carrying out this section.

(d) The Massachusetts office of business development shall promulgate the regulations necessary for the administration of this section.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2018, the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives detailing methods to promote and provide support to businesses that are headquartered or have a principal place of business in the commonwealth and are engaged in the division’s bidding process. The report shall, at a minimum, examine the factors considered in selecting bidders for projects and provide recommendations on effective strategies to elicit the participation of businesses that are headquartered or have a principal place of business in the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts office of business development shall conduct a feasibility study on developing and maintaining an internet-based system to facilitate the exchange of information for the MassMade program that shall include, but shall not be limited to, procurement requests by and from entities involving products made in the commonwealth.