HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3924        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3585

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nika C. Elugardo

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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 resolve:

Resolve establishing a commission on shifting funds from new nuclear weapons to transportation.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3924        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3585

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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Resolve establishing a commission on shifting funds from new nuclear weapons to transportation.

Resolved, There shall be a commission on transportation funds evaluation, referred to in this resolve as the commission. The commission shall consist of 15 members: 2 of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; 2 of whom shall be members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 person appointed by the governor; 1 person appointed by the treasurer of the commonwealth; 1 person appointed by the secretary of administration and finance; 1 person appointed by Massachusetts Peace Action, Inc.; 1 person appointed by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Association; 1 person appointed by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Inc.; 1 person appointed by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 person appointed by the SEIU Executive Council; and 1 person appointed by Veterans for Peace.

Members of the commission shall be drawn from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, age, sexual-orientation and socio-economic backgrounds from throughout the commonwealth. Members shall be considered special state employees for purposes of chapter 268A of the General Laws. The commission shall be an independent agency of the commonwealth and shall not be subject to the control of any other department or agency.

Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term. The commission shall elect from among its members a chair. The chair of the commission may designate on an annual basis 1 or more commission members as vice-chairs of the commission. The chair of the commission may create advisory committees as needed after consultation with the commission. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The appointment of the commissioners shall occur within 60 days after the effective date of this resolve.  The special commission shall dissolve 60 days after the submission of its report, unless upon a 2/3 vote of the commission, a continuance is deemed necessary to complete the purpose of the commission.  The time frame of said continuance shall be specified in the motion to extend time of operation. The commission shall submit its report to the governor and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue, the joint committee on transportation and the house and senate committees on ways and means.

The commission shall evaluate and report on (i) the cost of the United States government’s programs to renew, modernize and expand its nuclear weapons and missile defense systems (the “nuclear modernization costs”); (ii) the cost of necessary improvements to Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure, including but not limited to bridges, tunnels, railways, subways, roads, cycleways, walkways, streets, airports and seaports (the “transportation infrastructure costs”); and (iii) the portion of Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure costs that could be met if the Federal government diverted funds from nuclear modernization costs to meet the transportation infrastructure costs of Massachusetts and the other 49 states.

The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following: (i) to use voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations that may from time to time be offered and needed; (ii) to select an executive director and to acquire adequate staff to perform its duties, subject to appropriation; (iii) to establish and maintain offices that it considers necessary, subject to appropriation; (iv) to enact by-laws for its own governance; and (v) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may consider necessary.

The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require. The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this resolve. These funds shall be deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by the treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.