HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1617        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3464

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John C. Velis and Bud L. Williams

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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 commission to study the feasibility of a new Hampden County hall of justice in Springfield.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1617        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3464

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 commission to study the feasibility of a new Hampden County hall of justice in Springfield.

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. (a) The Executive Office of Administration and Finance, through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, shall convene a commission to study the feasibility and benefits of building a new Hampden County Hall of Justice in the City of Springfield.

(b) The commission shall consist of 13 members:

(1)two members representing Hampden County in the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2)two members representing Hampden County in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3)one representative from the Executive Office of the Trial Court, appointed by the Trial Court Administrator;

(4)one Justice, retired or active, who has served in Hampden County, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Trial Court;

(5)one representative from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, appointed by the Commissioner of said division;

(6)one representative from the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, appointed by a majority vote of their Board of Directors;

(7)one representative from MassDevelopment's West Regional Team, appointed by a majority vote of their Board of Directors;

(8)one representative from the Hampden County Bar Association, appointed by a majority vote of their Board of Directors;

(9)one representative from the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association, appointed by a majority vote of their Board of Directors;

(10) one representative from the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council, appointed by a majority vote of the officers of the Massachusetts Building Trade Council; and

(11) one representative from the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, appointed by a majority vote of their officers.

(b) Said commission shall study:

(1)the inadequacies in the design and location of the current Hampden County Hall of Justice located at 50 State Street in Springfield and the issues arising from them;

(2)possible locations for the construction of a new Hall of Justice in the City of Springfield, including, but not limited to, the neighborhoods called the North End and the South End;

(3)the cost associated with the construction of a new Hall of Justice, as well as any other economic impact, positive or negative, on the Commonwealth and City of Springfield;

(4)the impact of a new Hall of Justice on the surrounding community and physical environment;

(5)the design of other courthouses built since 2010, including, but not limited to, measures to improve environmental sustainability, security, and efficiency, and integration of modern technology into the courtroom, such as high-speed internet access and high-definition audio-visual technology; and having studied these,

(6)the overall feasibility and necessity of constructing a new and up-to-date Hall of Justice in the City of Springfield, taking into account resources, labor, and funding sources necessary for said construction.

(c) Said commission shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, as well as to the Secretary of Administration and Finance, on the findings and recommendations of the commission, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry the recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the Senate and House by December 31st, 2019.