HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2472        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Murphy

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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 establishing a public safety facility improvement fund.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2472        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2107

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act establishing a public safety facility improvement fund.

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: There shall be a commission to study the creation of a public safety facility improvement fund. The commission shall consist of 1 person to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the President of the Senate, both of whom shall serve as co-chairs; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; the Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth or their designee; the Executive Secretary of Public Safety and Security of the Commonwealth or their designee; 1 person to be appointed by the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts; 1 person to be appointed by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts; 1 person to be appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 person to be appointed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police

SECTION 2: The commission shall study and make recommendations on the establishment of a dedicated revenue stream and entity to assist municipalities and public safety entities with the cost of renovation and improvement of existing public safety facilities and the construction of new public safety facilities. The commission shall examine and make recommendations on the organizational structuring of this authority, which shall include considerations of public safety chief officers, personnel of full-time, call and volunteer public safety departments, public safety personnel with specialized training in occupational safety and hazards, personnel and firms with no less than (5) years of experience in municipal public safety facility construction, and government finance officials.

The commission shall also examine existing funding for public safety facilities and make recommendations on the establishment of a dedicated funding mechanism to provide said authority for public safety facility improvement with a dedicated funding mechanism for the purposes of assisting public safety agencies with the design, improvement and construction of public safety facilities. This shall include but not be limited to the establishment of a public safety impact assessment on new development. This study shall examine the valuation of this rate based upon square footage, expected occupancy rates, increased rates for facilities presenting hazards which would require enhanced public safety resources in a community, and any other special circumstances identified by the commission. 

The commission shall recommend criteria to be established by the authority when determining disbursement of funds. This shall include but not be limited to a clear priority structure for projects under consideration, including measures to prioritize critical health and safety improvements, development of standards and measures to be used by departments for projects that receive funding from the authority, and any other relevant critical public safety components to be included in projects funded by the agency.

The commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act and shall not meet less frequently than monthly thereafter. The commission shall submit a report of its study and recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house and senate not later than one year after the effective date of this act.