HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4939 FILED ON: 3/13/2020
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4701
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Mindy Domb
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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 COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Regional Transportation Authorities.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Mindy Domb | 3rd Hampshire | 3/13/2020 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4939 FILED ON: 3/13/2020
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4701
By Ms. Domb of Amherst, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mindy Domb for legislation to establish a fund to provide financial assistance to regional transportation authorities in certain areas affected by COVID-19. Transportation. |
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 COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Regional Transportation Authorities.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith for the distribution of necessaries during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Commonwealth, 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. (a) There shall be established and set upon the books of the commonwealth a separated fund to be known as the COVID-19 Regional Transport Authority Emergency Fund. The fund shall be administered by the executive office of transportation and public works.
(b) The purpose of the Fund shall be for financial assistance in the form of grants to regional transportation authorities within the commonwealth in high impact areas affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak. Such financial assistance shall include, but not be limited to, grants for: (i) loss of revenue; (ii) unexpected expenses, such as increased staffing, specialized equipment, sanitization of vehicles, leasing of new or replacement transit vehicles; (iii) joint procurement amongst RTAs to purchase items needed; or (iv) loss of contributions, grants, revenue, or other financial assistance as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
(c) There shall be credited to the Fund all amounts that are, by law, transferred or authorized to be transferred thereto or directed to be deposited therein, and all amounts received as gifts, grants or contributions for the purposes of the Fund. Amounts credited to the Fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and any money remaining in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.
SECTION 2. On the effective date of this act, the comptroller shall transfer $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Regional Transportation Authorities established in section 1 for the purposes of carrying out this act.