HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4824        FILED ON: 1/24/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4326

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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January 24, 2020

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,

I am filing for your consideration a bill entitled “An Act Financing Improvements to Municipal Roads and Bridges.”

This bill authorizes the Commonwealth to borrow $200 million to fund improvements to municipally owned roads and bridges through Chapter 90 grants.  These grants reach each of our 351 cities and towns directly, continuing the strong tradition of partnership between the Commonwealth and local communities. I previously filed this item last summer in transportation bond legislation, and am refiling today to ensure that this time-sensitive funding for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns has the opportunity to be acted upon prior to the start of the spring construction season. Swift passage of this legislation will ensure that the Commonwealth’s roads and bridges can continue on their path to a state of good repair. 

Accordingly, I urge you to enact this legislation promptly.

Respectfully submitted

Charles D. Baker,

Governor

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4326

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 financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to finance improvements to the commonwealth’s transportation system, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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. To provide for a program of transportation development and improvements, the sum set forth in section 2 for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, is hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds. The sum made available in this act shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated or made available for these purposes.

SECTION 2.

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

6122-2124      For the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws; provided, that a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further appropriation, for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or town under this item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the department to the city or town not later than March 1 of each year; and provided further, that the commonwealth shall reimburse a city or town under this item, subject to the availability of funds as provided in section 9G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, within 30 days after receipt by the department of a request for reimbursement from the city or town, which request shall include certification by the city or town that actual expenses have been incurred on projects eligible for reimbursement under this item and that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the city or town according to the specifications of the project and in compliance with applicable laws and procedures established by the department…………………………………………...$200,000,000

SECTION 3. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate, $200,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their face, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2020, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general court under section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2055, pursuant to said Section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.