SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2268        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1806

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William N. Brownsberger, (BY REQUEST)

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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 to establish the health, safety, and wellbeing for communities of color trust fund.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2268        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1806

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 to establish the health, safety, and wellbeing for communities of color trust fund.

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. Section 28 of Chapter 133 of the Acts of 2019 are hereby amended by striking "2020" and replacing it with:-"2023"

SECTION 2. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- Section 2DDDDD. Health, Safety, and Wellbeing for Communities of Color Trust Fund. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing for Communities of Color Trust Fund.  The fund shall be administered by the commissioner of department of public health. The fund shall be credited with: (i) revenue from all taxes collected on the sale of flavored tobacco products or other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) interest earned on such revenues; and (iii) funds from public and private sources. 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.

(b) Amounts credited to the fund shall be used to fund or support measurable programs that address public health, safety, and wellbeing in communities of color. These programs should include but not be limited to: (i) tobacco, alcohol, and drug education; (ii) other programs to address public health issues endemic in the community; (iii) support for improvements in community policing to improve public safety; and iv) housing issues.

(c) Not later than September 1, 2023, the commissioner shall report to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the joint committee on public health and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the fund's activity. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the source and amount of funds received; (ii) the amounts distributed and the purpose of expenditures from the fund, and (iii) the health impact on communities of color over the two-year period the flavored tobacco products ban was suspended, including a determination as to whether the flavored tobacco products ban was more or less effective in improving the health of communities of color than the newly dedicated resources.

SECTON 3.  The joint committee on public health shall hold a public hearing on the report filed pursuant to Section 2 of this bill no later than 30 days after receipt.