HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4969

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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By striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the following:–
 

SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an operator who paid the excise under section 3C of chapter 64G of the General Laws to the commissioner of revenue for a transfer of occupancy in a bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, lodging house, motel or short-term rental pursuant to a contract that was entered into not later than December 31, 2018 and that occurred between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, inclusive, may file a claim for abatement with the commissioner.

(b) The claim shall specify: (i) the total amount of excise that was due to the commissioner for such transfer of occupancy; (ii) the total amount of such excise actually paid to the commissioner; and (iii) the total amount of such excise so paid that was not paid by the occupant. The claim for abatement shall be made on such form and in such manner as prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain any documentation, information or calculations that the commissioner may specify. The commissioner shall evaluate each claim for abatement and shall treat any claim under this section as an application for abatement under chapter 62C of the General Laws.

(c) Not later than 60 days after claims for abatement are due, after the timely, accurate and complete submission of the claim for abatement the commissioner shall certify, for all claims approved by the commissioner, the amount reported pursuant to clause (iii) and notify the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board, established in section 20 of chapter 29C of the General Laws, of the certified amount. Not later than 30 days after receipt of such notice, the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board shall remit the certified amount from the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund, established in section 19 of said chapter 29C, to the commissioner; provided, however, that if the board is unable to remit all or part of the certified amount due to lack of sufficient funds, the commissioner shall not credit revenues received pursuant to said section 3C of said chapter 64G to the fund up to the amount of the certified amount not remitted.

(d) After receipt of the certified amount, the commissioner shall abate the certified amount.

(e) The commissioner shall issue guidance to implement this act and a claim filed pursuant to this act shall be filed not more than 30 days after the commissioner has issued the guidance.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2021, the commissioner shall report the total amount abated under this act to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on revenue.