HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3562        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1332

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey

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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 creating financial opportunities in higher education by reducing unnecessary state administrative policies.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3562        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1332

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act creating financial opportunities in higher education by reducing unnecessary state administrative policies.

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. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 15C and inserting in place thereof the following section: -

"Section 15C. Each institution within the system of public higher education shall annually produce audited financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, generally accepted auditing standards, and generally accepted governmental auditing standards. The statements shall be in accordance with procedures for timeliness and for disclosures as proscribed by the office of the state comptroller and approved by the state auditor. The statements shall include all expenditures and revenues from all appropriated and non-appropriated funds and be filed with the governor, office of state comptroller, the board of higher education, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on higher education no later than October 15 each year."

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, public institutions of higher education may elect to pay its payroll tax from either local funds or its state appropriation.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, foundations established for the benefit of public colleges and universities may enter into any lease agreements permitted by law.

SECTION 4. Subsection (e) of section 46 of chapter 7C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$300,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure: - $1,000,000.

SECTION 5. Section 5 of chapter 7C of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph: -

“Section 5. The commissioner shall, in a manner and to the extent provided by this chapter, control and supervise any building project to be undertaken by a state agency or building authority when the estimated cost of the project exceeds $1,000,000 and involves structural or mechanical work. The commissioner may, upon request of a state agency or building authority, delegate project control and supervision to that state agency or building authority over projects involving structural or mechanical work whose estimated cost is less than $10,000,000 if the commissioner determines that the agency or authority has the ability to control and supervise such project. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any state agency or building authority shall control and supervise its own building projects when the estimated cost of such project is less than $1,000,000, or if the project does not involve structural or mechanical work. As used in this section, ''estimated cost'' shall mean the estimated construction cost stated in a study or program prepared in accordance with section 59.”

SECTION 6. Section 44A of Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figures “$10,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$30,000”. The same section is further amended by striking out the figures “$150,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$300,000”. The same section is further amended by striking out the figures “$50,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$150,000”.

SECTION 7. Section 39M of Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figures “$10,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$30,000”. The same section is further amended by striking out the figure “$150,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$300,000”. The same section is further amended by striking out the figures “$50,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$150,000”.

SECTION 8. Section 44F of Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figures “$25,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$50,000”.

SECTION 9. Section 44A of Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the following: - “a minimum of 2”.

SECTION 10. Section 39S of Chapter 30 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figures “$10,000” and replacing it with the following: - “$25,000”.