Bill S.2564

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2564

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2022, the sums set forth in section 2 are hereby appropriated from the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021 unless specifically designated otherwise in this act or in those appropriations acts, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year in which the sums are disbursed. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of those items. The sums set forth in section 2 shall be made available until June 30, 2022.

SECTION 2.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Department of Revenue

1201-0122$213,000

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services

1599-6903$39,400,000

4000-0300$300,000

4003-0122$12,000,000

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

Municipal Police Training Committee

8200-0200$500,000

SECTION 2A. The sums set forth in section 2A are hereby appropriated from the federal COVID-19 response fund established in section 2JJJJJ of chapter 29 of the General Laws and the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021 for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year in which the sums are disbursed. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of those items. These sums set forth in section 2A shall be made available until June 30, 2027.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Reserves

1599-2020For a reserve to create and maintain opportunities for homeownership for residents of communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided, that funds shall be expended to create and enhance access to homeownership in order to foster a strong, inclusive and equitable recovery with long-term benefits for housing security, health and economic outcomes and to address a systemic homeownership gap that contributed to more severe impacts of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic in socially disadvantaged communities and among targeted populations; provided further, that funds shall be expended to create opportunities for first-time homebuyers; provided further, that funds may be expended for down payment assistance programs, mortgage insurance programs and mortgage interest subsidy programs administered by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership; provided further, that funds may be expended to first-time homebuyer counseling and financial literacy programs; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds…………………..$50,000,000

1599-2021For a reserve to support the production of for-sale, below market housing to expand homeownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic through the CommonWealth Builder Program administered by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency; provided, that grants and loans to developers shall be used to facilitate production of affordable homeownership units for households earning between 70 per cent and 120 per cent of the area median income; provided further, that projects with units restricted to households earning 70 percent of the area median income shall be prioritized; provided further, that projects that include clean energy and sustainability initiatives, such as electric heat pumps, shall be prioritized; provided further, that funds in this item shall be distributed in a manner that promotes geographic equity; provided further, that preference may be given to projects in communities that have adopted comprehensive zoning changes allowed by simple majority under paragraph 5 of section 5 of chapter 40A of the General Laws or otherwise have made zoning or other reforms to encourage the production of affordable or smart growth housing; and provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds………………………………………………………………………………….$125,000,000

1599-2022For a reserve to support the production and preservation of affordable rental housing for residents of communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic through programs administered by the department of housing and community development directly or through 1 or more of the following: Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency; Massachusetts Housing Partnership; and Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation; provided, that funds shall be expended in the form of grants, loans or other financial assistance to projects receiving federal or state low-income housing tax credits, state tax-exempt bond financing or other state financial assistance in the form of grants or loans; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds from this item may be made available to increase the annual cap by up to $2,000,000 for the housing development incentive program under chapter 40V of the General Laws; provided further, that projects that include clean energy and sustainability initiatives, such as electric heat pumps, shall be prioritized; provided further, that funds in this item shall be distributed in a manner that promotes geographic equity; provided further, that preference may be given to projects in communities that have adopted comprehensive zoning changes allowed by simple majority under paragraph 5 of section 5 of chapter 40A of the General Laws or otherwise have made zoning or other reforms to encourage the production of affordable or smart growth housing; provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds…………………$125,000,000

1599-2023For a reserve to support the production of permanent supportive housing for individuals and families who may be classified as chronically homeless, individuals and families with behavioral health needs or substance addiction needs, survivors of domestic violence, individuals and families at risk of entering or transitioning out of the foster care system, seniors and veterans through programs administered by the department of housing and community development directly or through 1 or more of the following: Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency; Massachusetts Housing Partnership; and Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation; provided, that funds shall be expended in the form of grants, loans or other financial assistance to projects that will provide stable housing options and supportive services to the populations prioritized in this item; provided further, that funds shall be expended in the form of grants that shall include rental assistance and funding for support services to projects that provide services to support long-term homelessness prevention; provided further, that funds may be expended for the acquisition of temporary housing including, but not limited to, hotels, motels and nursing facilities, to be converted into permanent and affordable supportive housing; provided further, that the department shall consult with Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing LLC on evidence-based and evidence-informed best practices for creating and expanding permanent supportive housing for the populations prioritized in this item; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the department shall submit a report, in consultation with the Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing LLC, to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing on recommendations for creating permanent supportive housing for the populations prioritized in this item to reduce the incidence of chronic and long-term homelessness in the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $75,000,000 shall be made available and administered, in consultation with the Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing LLC, for the creation of permanent supportive housing targeted at individuals and families classified as chronically homeless based on the recommendations; provided further, that the department shall prioritize communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; and provided further, that the department shall ensure geographic equity when distributing funds…………………………………………………………….$150,000,000

1599-2024For a reserve to rehabilitate and modernize state-aided public housing developments through the funding of infrastructure improvements undertaken pursuant to clause (j) of section 26 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the department of housing and community development; provided further, that expenditures shall include, but not be limited to, contracts entered into for projects: (i) to replace existing failed and beyond useful-life sewer lines, water lines, heating lines, electrical lines and transformers; (ii) to address failing and unsafe zoned fire alarm systems with addressable systems; (iii) to complete approved projects underfunded due to code triggers and construction multi-phasing; (iv) that were requested based on approved formula funding figures delayed due to increased costs due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; and (v) to mitigate issues relating to flooding and climate hazards; provided further, that the department shall prioritize projects in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic when distributing funds; provided further, that the department shall ensure geographic equity when distributing funds; provided further, that when appropriate the department may require a matching grant from the municipality in which a recipient housing development resides; and provided further, that not less than 30 day prior to obligations being made from this item, the department shall provide a distribution methodology to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing………………………………………………………………………………$150,000,000

1599-2025 For a reserve to support and enhance the commonwealth’s local and regional public health system; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the department of public health; provided further, that the funds shall be expended in a manner that prioritizes the expansion and enhancement of shared public health services among 1 or more municipalities; provided further, that not less than $118,400,000 shall be expended to establish standardized and unified data systems to increase capacity to collect, analyze and share data to protect the public's health and evaluate system performance; provided further, that such expenditures may include hardware, software and training to support a local public health performance and credential data tracking system and development of an online inspection and permitting system; provided further, that not less than $37,500,000 shall be expended on training and educational opportunities for local boards of health members and health department staff and the provision of financial assistance to those members and staff to meet workforce education and credentialing standards recommended by the special commission on local and regional public health; provided further, that such expenditures may include funding for the department of public health and the department of environmental protection to procure workforce development and learning management systems; provided further, that not less than $95,000,000 shall be expended on a 5-year program of direct funding and technical assistance to local boards of health to increase their ability to adequately perform essential functions, including meeting regulatory and statutory obligations, improving population health and addressing health disparities in communities with large populations of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the department of public health shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public health with a proposed schedule for distributing funds from this item; provided further, that not less than quarterly, the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public health on the distribution of funds from this item including, but not limited to: (i) the recipients of such funds; (ii) the amount distributed, by recipient; and (iii) the purpose of the distribution, by recipient; provided further, that funds shall be prioritized for communities with large populations of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups and for communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; and provided further, that the department shall ensure geographic equity when distributing funds……………………………………………………………..$250,900,000

1599-2026For a reserve to enhance and expand access to mental and behavioral health supports and services; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that not less than $240,400,000 shall be transferred to the Behavioral Health Trust Fund established in section 91; provided further, that funds in this item shall be expended for a loan repayment assistance program for mental health professionals, which shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services or by an organization under contract with the executive office; provided further, that funds for the program shall be expended to enhance existing loan repayment assistance programs, if appropriate; provided further, that the loan repayment assistance program shall include: (i) not less than $21,000,000 for psychiatrists to provide assistance of up to $300,000 per individual; (ii) not less than $12,000,000 for physician-level mental health professionals to provide assistance of up to $150,000 per individual; (iii) not less than $35,000,000 for master’s degree level mental health professionals to provide assistance of up to $50,000 per individual; (iv) not less than $20,000,000 for bachelor’s degree level mental health professionals to provide assistance of up to $30,000 per individual; (v) not less than $14,000,000 for in-patient psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to provide assistance of up to $100,000 per individual; and (vi) not less than $8,000,000 for in-patient mental health workers to provide assistance of up to $40,000 per individual; provided further, that said program shall prioritize the recruitment and retention of a culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce; provided further, that to be eligible for loan repayment assistance under this item, an individual shall: (a) work in a community health center, a community mental health center or an in-patient psychiatric hospital; (b) have outstanding educational debt; (c) not participate in any other loan repayment program; and (d) be required to enter into a contract with the commonwealth for not less than 4 years; provided further, that the amounts of assistance per individual shall be pro-rated for individuals working on a part-time basis; provided further, that the executive office shall promulgate regulations for the administration and enforcement of the loan repayment assistance program under this item which shall include penalties and repayment procedures if a participating individual fails to comply with the program requirements; provided further, that not less than 45 days prior to the obligation of funds for the loan repayment assistance program, the executive office shall submit a comprehensive program plan to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on health care financing; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended on a public awareness campaign on the loan repayment assistance program; provided further, that not less than $10,000,000 shall be made available to supports grants for a program of assertive community treatment; provided further, that of the $10,000,000, not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available for individuals under the age of 22 who exhibit symptoms of serious emotional disturbance, demonstrate an inability to consistently use less intensive levels of care in the community and have functional impairment and a history of difficulty functioning safely and successfully in the community, school, home or workplace; provided further, that the program shall: (1) include a team-based approach to service delivery that tailors services to the specific needs and acuity of each individual; (2) provide mental health services and social service assistance through a person-centered approach, which may include, but shall not be limited to, clinical assessment and outreach, medication treatment and outreach, care coordination including with primary care, symptom management, harm reduction, family services, housing support and any other needs that arise in carrying out the acts of daily living; (3) be consistent, to the maximum extent possible, with the evidence-based practice standards for assertive community treatment as found in the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Assertive Community Treatment Evidence-Based Practices Kit; and (4) not limit program services to a specific physical location; provided further, that at least 1 grant shall be awarded in each of the 6 executive office of health and human services’ regions, which shall include the western, central, northeast, Metrowest, southeast and Boston regions, to ensure access in all areas of the commonwealth; provided further, that annually, not later than April 1, the executive office shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on health care financing that shall detail the: (A) funds distributed, delineated by recipient; and (B) number of new programs created with the funds, delineated by fund recipient, location, number of individuals served and ages of individuals served; provided further, that not less than $11,600,000 shall be expended for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner fellowship program to recruit and retain psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners at community health centers; provided further, that annually, not later than April 1, the executive office shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on health care financing that shall detail: (I) the number of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner applicants and participants; (II) participant retention; (III) efforts to diversify the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners; and (IV) all program expenditures; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended to establish and expand pre-arrest, co-response programs; provided further, that such programs shall require collaboration between municipal police departments and mental health clinicians; provided further, that funds shall be expended in the form of matching grants to municipalities; provided further, that the executive office shall prioritize municipalities that submit a strategy to utilize evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches to divert individuals from jail where mental health or substance use crisis responses are more appropriate; provided further, that annually, not later than April 1, the executive office shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on health care financing detailing the grant criteria used, grant applicants, grants recipients and all program expenditures; provided further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be expended to establish an online portal to facilitate the coordination of services for children, adolescents and adults who are being boarded in emergency departments who have mental and behavioral health needs; provided further, that the portal shall enable access to real-time data on emergency department boarding, including length of wait, primary reason for wait, level of care required, type of insurance coverage and available data on patient age, race, ethnicity, preferred spoken language and gender; provided further, that the portal shall include a real-time behavioral health bed search feature that categorizes beds by care level, licensing authority, age restrictions and geographic location; provided further, that not less than $2,500,000 shall be expended on the development of an inter-operable warehouse to collect and aggregate accurate, real-time data between agencies under the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the warehouse shall be utilized to help individuals navigate the system of care and find providers for service needs; provided further, that not later than June 1, 2022, the executive office of health and human services shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery detailing progress on development of the portal and the warehouse; provided further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be expended by the department of public health on a culturally competent, linguistically diverse public awareness campaign to promote the awareness and use of available behavioral health services; and provided further, that the public awareness campaign shall partner with relevant advocacy organizations, employers, institutions of higher education and community-based organizations to ensure that the campaign reaches the populations that are most at risk of encountering barriers to behavioral health services…………………………………$400,000,000

1599-2027For a reserve to support loan repayment, retention and recruitment programs for human service workers in the commonwealth; provided, that not less than $30,000,000 shall be made available for a loan repayment assistance program for human service workers; provided further, that eligible program participants shall be employees who provide treatment, support or services to clients or their families through home-based and community-based human service organizations in programs funded by the executive office of health and human services, the executive office of elder affairs, the department of housing and community development or the department of early education and care; provided further, that the program shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services, in collaboration with the executive office of education; provided further, that there shall be a board consisting of representatives from the human services sector to make recommendations on the criteria for the program including, but not limited to: (i) eligible workers; (ii) recipient income requirements; (iii) loan repayment assistance levels; and (iv) work commitments necessary for eligibility; provided further, that the board shall consist of: 3 persons to be appointed by the governor; 2 persons to be appointed by the president of the senate; and 2 persons to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; provided further, that not later than April 15, 2022, the executive office of health and human services shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on higher education detailing the criteria established for the program; provided further, that annually, not later than June 30, the executive office shall provide a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on higher education, detailing expenditures from this item by service category and organization, including average loan repayment per worker; provided further, that not less than $25,000,000 shall be expended on a grant program for human service organizations to support the retention and recruitment of human service workers; provided further, that the grant program shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the executive office shall establish grant criteria and begin seeking applications; and provided further, that prior to establishing the grant criteria, the executive office shall seek input from stakeholders to consider in establishing grant criteria………………………………………………$55,000,000

1599-2028For a reserve to support acute hospitals impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that funds shall be expended in the form of stabilization grants; provided further, that the executive office, in consultation with the center for health information and analysis, shall establish a methodology for awarding grants through an application process; provided further, that the executive office, in establishing grant criteria, shall prioritize applications that are submitted by non-profit hospitals that identify with at least two of the following criteria: (i) serve communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, with a particular focus on communities with pre-existing health disparities as a result of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; (ii) have a total margin loss in hospital fiscal years 2020, 2021 or 2022, as determined by the center for health information and analysis based on quarterly financial data submitted by the hospital to the center; (iii) are designated by the center for health information and analysis as an independent community hospital or independent teaching hospital; and (iv) have a public payer mix of 65 per cent or higher, as calculated by the center for health information and analysis according to data from the most recent available year; provided further, that in reviewing grant applications, the executive office shall consider: (a) any hospital healthcare-related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic in hospital fiscal years 2020, 2021 or 2022, using definitions consistent with the federal Provider Relief Fund established by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136; (b) any federal or state funding related to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic that a hospital has already received; and (c) the financial health of the hospital; provided further, that a hospital receiving a grant shall not use such grant payment to reimburse expenses or losses that have been reimbursed from another source or that another source is obligated to reimburse; and provided further, that not less than 45 days prior to the distribution of grants, the executive office of health and human services shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on healthcare financing detailing the: (1) methodology used to determine the grant amounts; and (2) amount to be given to each hospital recipient……………………………………………………………………..$200,000,000

1599-2029For a reserve to support capital improvements and workforce retention and recruitment efforts at nursing facilities to enhance care delivery, resident experience and to mitigate and eliminate outbreaks of infectious diseases; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., shall develop and administer a no interest or forgivable loan program, totaling not less than $25,000,000, to: (i) support the development of nursing facility specialized care units including, but not limited to: (a) infectious disease isolation; (b) dementia special care; (c) degenerative neurological units; (d) geriatric psychiatry; (e) traumatic brain injury; (f) in-house dialysis treatment; and (g) behavioral health and substance use disorder; (ii) enable facilities to offset the costs of pay-go capital improvements including, but not limited to: (1) heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and air filtration system upgrades to mitigate the spread of airborne illnesses; (2) roof and other infrastructure replacement and repair projects; (3) alternative energy conversion projects; and (4) elevator renovations to comply with new government requirements; and (iii) fund innovative projects including, but not limited to: (A) conversion of sections within nursing facilities into affordable housing, veterans housing or assisted living units to better accommodate individual needs of residents; (B) converting multi-bed rooms to single occupancy to enhance privacy and dignity; and (C) establishing voluntary nursing facility reconfigurations, including financial incentives to reduce capacity and balance supply and demand based on regional needs; provided further, that the executive office shall prioritize nursing facilities serving residents from communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that the executive office shall prioritize nursing facilities with a disproportionate share of high acuity residents enrolled in MassHealth; provided further, that the executive office shall promulgate regulations on the process for loans being forgiven including, but not limited to, the period of time after receiving said loan that each recipient continues operations; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the executive office shall submit grant criteria to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on elder affairs; provided further, that not less than $25,000,000 shall be expended for nursing facility workforce retention and recruitment initiatives; provided further, that the executive office, in consultation with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc. and 1199SEIU, shall establish a methodology for distributing funds; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the executive office shall submit methodology criteria to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on elder affairs; and provided further, that funds in this item shall prioritize facilities for which not less than 75 per cent of residents are enrolled in MassHealth…………$50,000,000

1599-2030For a reserve for investments in publicly-owned lands and lands otherwise protected and conserved for public access, reservations, parks, trails, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams and other waterways, trails, beaches, fishing piers, boat ramps, community gardens, urban farms, working farms and forests and other recreational facilities and open spaces; provided, that funds may be transferred to the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, the department of conservation and recreation, the department of agricultural resources, the department of fish and game and the department of environmental protection for expenditure; provided further, that funds may be made available for land acquisition and the creation of urban open space with a focus on communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that funds shall be expended to clean, enhance, improve and modernize park and trail facilities; provided further, that a portion of the funds shall be used for conservation and recreation grant programs including, but not limited to, the local acquisitions for natural diversity grant program, parkland acquisitions and renovations for communities grant program, landscape partnership grant program, drinking water supply protection grant program and the MassTrails program; provided further, that funds may be used to increase the cap on grants under the conservation partnership grant program to $400,000 per project; provided further, that funds shall be prioritized to increase and improve urban open space and trails with preference for climate resilient projects designed to absorb heat and reduce flooding impacts that primarily impact communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that funds shall be expended to enhance and modernize park facilities or other public or private facilities for outdoor recreation, to steward and conserve natural resources and to improve the resilience of natural and working lands, plants and wildlife in the commonwealth; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds…………………………………………………………………$15,000,000

1599-2031For a reserve for environmental infrastructure; provided, that funds shall be expended for municipal vulnerability preparedness planning and action grants to plan for and address priority projects identified through local vulnerability assessments; provided further, that funds shall be expended for investments and grants consistent with the priorities identified in the state hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan, particularly those that will enable and facilitate statewide and local adaptation and resilience outcomes, including nature-based solutions as defined in section 1 of chapter 21N of the General Laws; provided further, that funds may be transferred to the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, the department of fish and game, the division of ecological restoration, the division of marine fisheries, the office of coastal zone management and the department of conservation and recreation for expenditure; provided further, that funds may be utilized for river, wetland, river corridor revitalization, ecological restoration and protection of aquatic ecosystems and functions throughout the commonwealth including, but not limited to, dam and barrier removal, in-stream improvements, flow, water quality, riverine habitat, protection of high-quality riparian and wetland habitat, assessment and mitigation of threats from climate change and restoration of coastal areas, wetlands, salt marshes and cranberry bogs, flooding and improving recreational opportunities; provided further, that funds may be used to provide grants to a municipality or group of municipalities to hire a sustainability coordinator to organize, secure funding, implement and monitor projects related to the state climate adaptation and energy programs; provided further, that funds may be provided to non-profit organizations for water monitoring program grants; provided further, that funds may be used to provide grants through the culvert replacement municipal assistance grant program; provided further, that regional municipal partnerships, regional planning bodies, watershed associations, land trusts, conservation organizations, non-profit organizations and other similar non-profit entities may serve as lawful grantees; provided further, that funds may be expended for the department of environmental protection to develop a statewide hydrology and hydraulic-based culvert and small bridge assessment tool; provided further, that priority shall be given to projects supporting communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that prioritization in distributing grants shall be given to ensuring geographic equity; provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds………………………………………………………………...$125,000,000

1599-2032For a reserve for water and sewer infrastructure; provided, that funds shall be expended for sewer separation projects and other methods of remediating combined sewer overflow and other sewage discharges into waterways including, but not limited to, projects to improve water quality in the Merrimack river; provided further, that funds may be transferred to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of reducing the principal or interest costs of drinking water improvements under programs administered under the umbrella of the Clean Water Trust; provided further, that funds may be transferred to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purpose of reducing the principal or interest costs of water quality improvements under programs administered under the umbrella of the Clean Water Trust; provided further, that funds may be transferred to the Clean Water Trust for the purpose of providing incentives such as providing principal forgiveness, reducing the principal or interest costs of water quality improvements that employ green infrastructure as defined in section 26A of chapter 21 of the General Laws; provided further, that priority shall be given to projects supporting communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that prioritization in distributing funds from this item shall be given to ensuring geographic equity; provided further, that funds may be expended for costs associated with connecting municipalities to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water system; provided further, that funds may be made available to mitigate the debt service obligations of municipalities that have previously undertaken water and sewer projects otherwise eligible under this item; provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds………………………………………………………………………………….$175,000,000

1599-2033For a reserve for a forestry and tree planting greening program for projects throughout the commonwealth on publicly-owned land, land owned by non-profit organizations and privately-owned land where landowners agree to maintain any trees planted thereon for not less than 2 years, including, but not be limited to, the evaluation and planning of forestry and tree greening projects, tree stock and planting and the care and protection of trees and forests to be administered by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs in partnership with the department of conservation and recreation urban and community forestry program, the department of energy resources and the department of housing and community development; provided, that funding shall be first prioritized for projects for gateway municipalities as defined in section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws, communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic and urban and suburban neighborhoods without adequate tree cover and then prioritized for projects for floodplains and riparian areas, areas devastated by catastrophic weather events or widespread insect infestation or in area locations of aquifers, recharge areas, wells, reservoirs and other water bodies that will improve water quality as part of a natural ecosystem; provided further, that the executive office shall provide guidance for planning, prioritization, selection and implementation of projects in furtherance of climate change resilience and adaptation goals and consistent with the integrated state hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation plan and the state clean energy and climate plan; provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds...................$20,000,000

1599-2034For a reserve for marine port development; provided, that funds shall be utilized to support the deployment, construction and manufacturing of, or the operation and maintenance of, offshore wind to promote both short-term and long-term economic development; provided further, that funds may be used for the design, construction, reconstruction, improvement, rehabilitation or expansion of port areas with the potential to facilitate economic development activity for the offshore wind industry; and provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this item, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on proposed allocations and spending plans for programs within this item including, but not limited to, any program criteria and guidelines for the distribution of funds……………………….$100,000,000

1599-2035For a reserve to support a pilot program to retrofit existing low-income and moderate-income housing to be highly energy efficient, use clean heating and cooking technologies and where possible be powered by electricity from on-site renewable energy generating sources; provided further, that funds in this item shall be administered by the department of energy resources, which may contract with the Massachusetts clean energy center; provided further, that funds from this item shall be limited to gateway municipalities as defined in section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws, qualified census tracts and municipalities with similar demographics as determined by the department; provided further, that eligible projects shall retrofit not less than 10 existing low-income or moderate-income housing units; provided further, that the department of energy resources, in consultation with the center, the department of housing and community development and the department of public utilities, shall establish an application criteria, including an incentive structure that requires participating property owners to maintain their properties as low-income or moderate-income housing for a certain period after retrofitting projects have been completed; provided further, that municipalities and non-profits shall be eligible to apply for funding from this item; provided further, that the department of energy resources shall collect data and identify best practices for retrofitting low-income and moderate-income housing; provided further, that any grants distributed from this item may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that not later than 6 months after completion of the pilot program, the department of energy resources shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy that, for each pilot site, shall include, but not be limited to: (i) energy savings; (ii) utility bill savings; (iii) improvements in indoor and outdoor air quality; (iv) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants; (v) improvements in resident safety and quality of life; (vi) the most effective retrofitting approaches based on housing type; and (vii) recommendations to expand the program……………………………………………………………………………$10,000,000

1599-2036For a reserve to be administered by the Massachusetts clean energy center established in section 2 of chapter 23J of the General Laws to support the implementation of a research project to oversee, collect and analyze data related to the design and operation of geothermal demonstration projects, approved by the department of public utilities and other related projects deemed appropriate by the center; provided, that funding shall be made available to research, non-profit and university entities identified by the center to conduct a thorough evaluation of the demonstration projects and their related technology; and provided further, that those entities, in consultation with the center shall: (i) model the design and hydro-geology of proposed geothermal demonstration project sites; (ii) monitor the thermal energy storage provided by current sites; (iii) create a public data bank of normalized data to compare sites, including cost comparisons; (iv) document and disseminate recommendations and best practices for rapid scaling and optimization; (v) provide projections on the scaled-up impacts of sites on emissions, health, customer bills and other variables; (vi) engage and educate stakeholders in the host communities of potential sites; and (vii) perform feasibility studies for communities interested in projects to better enable shovel-readiness………………..................................................................$5,000,000

1599-2037For a reserve to enhance workforce opportunities through workforce and career technical skills training; provided, that not less than $75,000,000 shall be transferred to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund established under section 2WWW of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, grants funded through this transfer shall prioritize programs for: (i) individuals residing in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; (ii) workers dislocated from the workforce during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic through layoffs, interruptions to educational opportunities or other economic disruptions with a particular focus on populations that have been historically underrepresented in the workforce; (iii) individuals engaged in adult basic education courses with particular focus on training for English for speakers of other languages; and (iv) communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system with a particular focus on individuals returning to their communities from incarceration during the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that funds may be expended for wraparound services to individuals receiving workforce training; provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to obligations being made from this transfer, the administering entity shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on any specific grant criteria for these funds to target the programs prioritized in this item; provided further, that not less than $25,000,000 shall be expended from this item for the development and operation of career technical institutes in vocational technical schools in partnership with industry and community stakeholders to build out industry recognized credentialing pathways for students and adult learners in technical and trade fields to retrain and grow the workforce; provided further, that funds may be expended to issue competitive, performance-based contracting models to support the start-up and implementation costs of career technical institutes; provided further, that funds may be used for planning and implementation grants for regional and local partnerships to expand existing or develop new career and technical education programs; provided further, that preference in distributing funds from this item shall be given to vocational schools with demonstrable waitlists for admission; and provided further, that annually, not later than June 1, the executive office of labor and workforce development shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on labor and workforce development that shall include, but not be limited to, the: (a) vocational technical schools that are operating career technical institutes; (b) number of students served by career technical institutes, and the number of adult learners participating in industry recognized credentialing pathways, delineated by training program; and (c) employment outcomes of the graduates of such training programs…………..……………………………………..$100,000,000

1599-2038For a reserve to fund capital improvement grants to vocational high schools and public schools operating career and technical education programs; provided, that grants shall be made available to establish, upgrade and expand career and technical education training programs to meet the workforce demands of regional employers and increase equitable access to career and technical skills training; provided further, that the executive office of education, in consultation with the executive office of labor and workforce development, the executive office of housing and economic development and the Massachusetts School Building Authority shall develop guidelines, as necessary, for the administration of the program; provided further, that grants may support capital improvement projects including, but not limited to: (i) the purchase and installation of equipment; (ii) improvements and renovations to facilities necessary for the installation and use of such equipment; and (iii) facility improvements to increase capacity; provided further, that preference in distributing funds from this item shall be given to vocational schools with demonstrable waiting lists for admission and to districts and municipalities with limited access to career and technical education programs; provided further, that not less than 30 days prior to the disbursement of funds from this item, the executive office of education shall submit the proposed guidelines to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education; provided further, that annually, not later than June 1, the executive office of education shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education that shall include, but not be limited to, the: (a) vocational technical schools and public schools receiving funds under this item and the amount of such funding; and (b) types of capital improvement projects funded under this item……$100,000,000

1599-2039For a reserve to support the commonwealth’s cybersecurity workforce and infrastructure; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation established in section 3 of chapter 40J of the General Laws and doing business as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative; provided further, that funds shall be expended, in collaboration with the commonwealth’s public institutions of higher education, to provide regional security operations center services for the monitoring and detection of cyber threat activity to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses and cyber range services, which shall include opportunities for cybersecurity workforce training; and provided further, that funds expended from this item shall prioritize the expansion of the cybersecurity workforce in the commonwealth with a focus on underserved and underrepresented populations in the cybersecurity sector…………………………………………………………………..........................$15,000,000

1599-2041For a reserve to support high-demand workforce training programs; provided, that the program shall be administered jointly by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges and the executive office of education, in consultation with the executive office of labor and workforce development and regional workforce investment boards; provided further, that the program shall support the creation and expansion of training programs at community colleges for high-demand industries, identified by regional labor market blueprints; provided further, that those industries may include, but shall not be limited to, healthcare, education, manufacturing and cybersecurity; provided further, that annually, not later than June 1, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges shall submit a report to the executive office of education, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on higher education that shall include, but not be limited to, the: (i) distribution of funding from this item to the community colleges; (ii) number of students enrolled in high-demand workforce training programs; and (iii) employment outcomes of the individuals enrolled in the programs…………………..$30,000,000

1599-2042For a reserve to support small businesses impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided, that not less than $50,000,000 shall be transferred to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation established in chapter 40W of the General Laws for grants to support small businesses negatively impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that the grants shall be expended to: (i) businesses that focus on reaching markets predominantly made up of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups; and (ii) diverse businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups; and provided further, that the corporation shall consult with the board designated to make recommendations for the community empowerment and reinvestment grant program in item 7002-2021 in section 2 of chapter 227 of the acts of 2020 to establish a grant criteria…………………………………………………………………………………$50,000,000

1599-2043For a reserve for cultural and tourism assets; provided, that the funds in this item shall be made available to the Massachusetts cultural council to administer a grant program for the purposes of assisting cultural organizations recover from the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that grants shall be made available for, but not be limited to: (i) facility upgrades, including costs associated with programmatic adaptation due to the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; (ii) technology and infrastructure costs for safe reopening of facilities; and (iii) direct financial support to assist with staffing and other operational needs; provided further, that the council shall consider racial, geographic and programmatic diversity and equity within the cultural sector when establishing grant criteria; provided further, that the council shall consider and prioritize those applicants with the largest demonstrated economic need as a result of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, as well as the applicant’s demonstrated economic impact in terms of job creation and tourism generated; provided further, that funds may be transferred to the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund established in section 42 of chapter 23G of the General Laws for the purposes of this item; provided further, that the council may include a match requirement for recipient organizations; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the council shall submit grant application criteria to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development; provided further, that annually, not later than June 1, the council shall submit a report to the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) a list of the grant recipients, including the sector of each recipient; (b) a list of applicants that did not receive a grant, including the sector of each applicant; (c) the amount of grants provided to each grant recipient; (d) the geographic distribution of said grants; (e) efforts to promote a diverse art and cultural sector through the grants; and (f) any adjustments to the grant application criteria……………………………………..$75,000,000

1599-2044For a reserve to support the commonwealth’s agricultural, commercial fishing and cranberry-growing industries; provided, that grants from this program shall be allocated equally for each industry; provided further, that the executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall establish the grant program and application criteria in consultation with the department of agricultural resources and the division of marine fisheries; provided further, that the executive office shall prioritize grant applicants focused on innovative approaches to enhance environmental benefits and encourage increased economic activity in its respective sector including, but not limited to: (i) capital infrastructure improvements that promote energy efficiency; (ii) the purchase or expanded use of renewable energy technologies; (iii) tools to address barriers to economic growth, including business management technical assistance and the purchase of more efficient equipment and technology; or (iv) tools and technologies to facilitate sustainability and new product development; provided further, that no grant recipient shall receive more than $100,000 from the grant program; provided further, that not later than March 30, 2022, the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the status of the grant program that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the number of grant applications, by industry; (b) the number of successful grant applicants, by industry; (c) the amount of grant funding allocated for each successful applicant; (d) each successful grant applicant’s proposed use of grant funding; and (e) the criteria used to determine successful applications; provided further, that not less than $5,000,000 shall be transferred to the Agricultural Innovation Fund established in section 35KKK of chapter 10 of the General Laws; and provided further, that funds transferred in this item shall support cranberry bog renovation and water management infrastructure improvements and system upgrades.................................................................................$8,000,000

1599-2045For a reserve to close the digital divide by facilitating broadband and internet access to be administered by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation established in section 3 of chapter 40J of the General Laws and doing business as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative; provided, that funds shall be expended to promote broadband adoption and digital literacy; provided further, that funds may be expended on targeted infrastructure projects to improve service in unserved and underserved areas; provided further, that funds may be expended to provide devices, digital literacy services and internet service plan support, including subsidies, to targeted populations including, but not limited to, low-income households eligible for or receiving benefits from the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program, the temporary assistance for needy families program or Medicaid; provided further, that funds may be made available to expand the Mass Internet Connect program to provide technology supports, service and internet connections necessary to individuals seeking employment; provided further, that funds may be prioritized for regionally coordinated, low-cost broadband initiatives; provided further, that prior to expending funds from this item, the institute shall consult with the special commission on equity and access to telecommunications services created under section 105 of 227 of the acts of 2020, or the report thereof; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the collaborative, in consultation with the special commission, or the report thereof, shall submit recommendations for expending funds from this item to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means; and provided further, that any grants distributed from this item may include a requirement for matching funds…...……………………………………………………………………………...$75,000,000

1599-2046For the purposes of continuing the implementation of section 15E of chapter 15A of the General Laws to encourage private fundraising by the commonwealth’s public institutions of higher education for the endowments and capital outlay programs of those institutions, including, but not limited to, endowed scholarship funds, endowed professorships, endowed STEM programming, endowed research positions, endowed programming in the arts and humanities, endowed funds to increase diversity and inclusion on public higher education campuses, endowed funds that increase persistence and completion rates, endowed funds that encourage innovative financial aid strategies, including income-sharing arrangements, endowed early college programs and such other purposes as the board shall determine to be consistent with system-wide and campus mission statements and with measurable goals and metrics tied to those missions; provided further, that the board of higher education shall implement the program in a manner that ensures that each institution shall have an equal opportunity to secure matching funds from this item; provided further, that not less than $18,000,000 shall be allocated to the University of Massachusetts; provided further, that not less than $6,000,000 shall be allocated to state universities; provided further, that not less than $6,000,000 shall be allocated to community colleges; provided further, that not later than January 31, 2022, the board shall issue a preliminary report on the initial allocation of matching dollars and any guidelines adopted for the distribution and use of such funding; provided further, that the board shall report annually, not later than December 1, on the efficacy of the program in securing additional donations for public higher education, along with a description of all programmatic improvements made possible by the funds; and provided further, that the interim report and the annual report shall be submitted to the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means…………………………………………………………………………………$30,000,000

1599-2047For a reserve to provide workforce development and capital assistance grants to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc. and the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc.; provided, that the funds shall be administered by the department of housing and community development in consultation with the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that the department shall award not less than $10,000,000 to the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc., which shall be distributed among the alliance’s member organizations based on criteria developed by the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc.; provided further, that YMCA member organizations shall have a specified percentage of funding secured prior to applying for capital grants; provided further, that the department shall award not less than $10,000,000 to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc., which shall be distributed among its member organizations based on criteria developed by the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.; provided further, that funds may be used to support workforce development and capital improvement projects including, but not limited to: (i) the repair, renovation, improvement, expansion and construction of indoor and outdoor facilities; (ii) information technology infrastructure improvements to enhance virtual learning and connectivity; and (iii) heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrades; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc. and the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc. shall each submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the grant application criteria for the distribution of funds to the member organizations of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc. and the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc.; (b) a list of grant recipients to date, including the amount of the grant award provided to each grant recipient; (c) descriptions of the capital improvement projects supported by the grants; and (d) the geographic distribution of the grants; provided further, that grants may include a requirement for matching funds; and provided further, that priority shall be given to capital improvement projects in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic…………………………………………………………...$20,000,000

1599-2048For a grant program focused on community violence prevention in communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic and the criminal justice system; provided, that the grant program shall be administered by the executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the office of the commissioner of probation; provided further, that the grant program shall provide multi-year grants through a competitive grant program to non-profit, community-based organizations that: (i) serve communities that are disproportionately impacted by community violence; (ii) seek to interrupt cycles of violence, trauma and retaliation in order to reduce the incidence of community violence, including decreasing the disproportionate impact of violence on historically marginalized communities; (iii) focus on providing violence intervention services to the small segment of the population that is identified as having the highest risk of perpetrating or being victimized by violence and experiencing resulting trauma currently or in the near future; (iv) have an established track record of working with individuals returning to their communities after incarceration with a focus on those at high risk of recidivism for violent crimes; provided further, that eligible expenses that may qualify for such grants shall include, but not be limited to: (a) evidence-based and evidence-informed pilot programs for direct services; (b) support for pay-go capital projects to expand physical capacity; (c) human capital initiatives, including diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, training and professional development, human resources and other sustainability initiatives; (d) impact and evaluation studies; (e) organizing work focused on creating systemic change or advancing racial and social equity; (f) emergency housing relocation and stabilization; and (g) other direct intervention services; provided further, that organizations receiving such grants shall systematically engage individuals disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system in the planning, development, leadership, oversight and quality improvement of the program’s services; provided further, that grants shall prioritize organizations working in communities with high rates of individuals returning to their communities from state or county correction facilities over the course of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2022, the executive office, in consultation with the office of the commissioner of probation, shall establish grant criteria and begin seeking applications; provided further, that prior to establishing grant criteria, the executive office and the office of the commissioner of probation shall seek input from stakeholders and communities on evidence-based and evidence-informed best practices to consider in establishing grant criteria; and provided further, that all grant recipients shall be required to submit detailed best practices and initiatives undertaken through funds received from this item………………………………………………………….$25,000,000

1599-2049For a reserve to support food security initiatives and supports; provided, that funds in this item shall support grants to fund the costs of immediate and projected infrastructure needs for farms, retailers, fisheries, food system businesses and food distribution channels including, but not limited to, food banks, farm stands, food hubs, elder services and community supported agriculture farms; provided further, that the program shall take into account the unique needs of rural and urban areas, including gateway municipalities as defined in section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws, to respond to the disruptions caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic and to provide greater access to local food in ways that support public health recommendations; provided further, that grants may be awarded to food banks and other parts of the food distribution channel to expand services and address urgently needed capital projects including, but not limited to: (i) information technology needs, including the development of online markets and delivery systems, including an online system to link food system channels to identify and match agricultural and fishery products to consumers and markets, particularly to benefit food insecure communities; (ii) facility adaptation to new safety guidelines, including new signage and the installation of handwashing stations; (iii) expansion of storage and food preparation areas for food banks, food pantries and other food distribution organizations; (iv) the purchase or lease of point-of-sale devices to provide to retailers at no cost to provide curbside pick-up and curbside payment service, including payment using Electronic Benefits Transfer cards; and (v) storage and processing equipment to adapt to supply chain disruptions, including cold and ambient storage and vehicles for distribution; and provided further, that prioritization of funds shall be given to local hunger organizations…………………………………………………………………………..$60,000,000

1599-2050 For a reserve to meet the costs of oversight functions in the office of the state auditor, the office of the attorney general, the office of the inspector general and the office of the comptroller related to the expenditure of federal 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic-related funding; provided, that oversight functions shall include audits, investigations, reviews, prevention, education, enforcement and prosecution related to funding from such funding; provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance may transfer funds from this item to the state agencies listed in this item; provided further, that any such transfers shall occur on a schedule to be determined by the secretary, in consultation with the relative state agency, based on the expected oversight costs; provided further, that transfers shall be made in accordance with executed interagency service agreements between the secretary and the state agency receiving the funds; provided further, that the secretary shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing any transfers from this item; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be made available for the federal funds equity and accountability review panel established in section 92; and provided further, that funds in this item shall be made available until December 31, 2022..................................................................................................$2,000,000

1599-2051For a reserve to support local and regional 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic response and recovery initiatives…………………………………………………………$100,000

SECTION 3. Section 35FF of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 73, the words “section 45 of chapter 75” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- section 12 of chapter 40G.

SECTION 4. Subsection (l) of section 8 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as appearing in section 4 of chapter 29 of the acts of 2021, is hereby amended by striking out the words “fingerprint background check service fee charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- actual costs for the processing and administration of the fingerprint background check.

SECTION 5. Section 5 of chapter 21E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commonwealth shall not be liable under this chapter for response actions taken or arranged by the department at any time for the purpose of implementing or enforcing the commonwealth’s rights or responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.

SECTION 6. Section 10B of chapter 23A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 17 and 18, the words “executive director of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- president of the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation.

SECTION 7. Section 56 of said chapter 23A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 37, the words “chapter 75” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- section 12 of chapter 40G.

SECTION 8. Section 27 of chapter 23G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 73, the words “45 of chapter 75” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 12 of chapter 40G.

SECTION 9. The first paragraph of subsection (a) of section 28 of said chapter 23G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence.

SECTION 10. Section 6 of chapter 23I of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 106 and 107, the words “45 of chapter 75” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 12 of chapter 40G.

SECTION 11. Section 12 of said chapter 23I, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 10 and 11, the words “executive director of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center and” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- president of the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation or the president’s designee.

SECTION 12. Section 2DDDDD of chapter 29 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “expended”, in line 15, the following words:- by the state fire marshal as the head of the department of fire services, who shall act as co-administrator,.

SECTION 13. The second paragraph of said section 2DDDDD of said chapter 29, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- The department of fire services shall assist the technical rescue coordinating council established pursuant to said section 6 of said chapter 22D with the administration of the fund, including, but not limited to, the collection and expenditure of amounts for the purposes set forth in this paragraph.

SECTION 14. Section 64 of said chapter 29, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The state treasurer, on behalf of the commonwealth’s deferred compensation program, may adopt annual budgets and supplemental budgets as necessary. Said budgets may include salaries for treasury employees working on or administering the commonwealth’s deferred compensation program; provided, however, that said budgets may be funded from the administrative expense account of the commonwealth’s deferred compensation program. Any such treasury employee whose compensation is sourced from the commonwealth’s deferred compensation program shall be an “employee” as defined in section 1 of chapter 32 and shall be a member of the state employees’ retirement system.

SECTION 15. Section 6A of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Such evaluation system shall include, but not be limited to, the following general provisions:

(i) all performance evaluations may be in writing or a printable electronic format and shall be maintained as part of the employee’s records by the employee’s appointing authority until the employee leaves civil service employment or as otherwise prescribed by the administrator;

(ii) prior to each evaluation period, the immediate supervisor shall inform the employee of the general performance dimensions and the procedures to be utilized in evaluating the employee’s performance; provided, however, that the supervisor shall also inform the employee that the evaluation may be utilized by the department or the appointing authority in future personnel determinations; and

(iii) after the evaluation has been conducted, the immediate supervisor shall confer with the employee concerning the evaluation; provided, however, that upon the completion of the employee’s review of the evaluation, the employee shall acknowledge receipt of the evaluation and indicate whether the employee agrees or disagrees with the evaluation; provided further, that upon request, the employee, or, with the employee’s consent, the employee’s collective bargaining agent, may be provided a copy of the evaluation.

SECTION 16. Section 1 of chapter 40G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Board” the following definition:-

“Center”, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center established in section 12.

SECTION 17. Said chapter 40G is hereby further amended by inserting after section 4B the following section:-

Section 4C. The center shall administer the Innovation Commercialization Seed Fund established in section 45B of chapter 75.

SECTION 18. Said chapter 40G is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 12. (a) There shall be within the corporation, and subject to the board’s oversight and control, a Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center to facilitate the transfer of technology from the commonwealth’s research institutions to the commonwealth’s industries for productive use by such industries. The center shall provide advice and assistance to public and private research institutions on strategies for technology transfer including, but not limited to, advice and assistance in: (i) assessing the viability and value of developing technologies; (ii) defining and exploiting potential markets for such technologies; (iii) commercialization strategies; (iv) intellectual property issues, including licensing strategies; and (v) business development. The center shall be governed by the board and subject to the board’s oversight and control. The president of the corporation may hire such staff as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the center.

(b) The corporation shall report annually to the Massachusetts office of business development on the number of technology transfer transactions or projects that have been consummated with the assistance of the center, the names and geographic locations of the recipient industries and the estimated number of new jobs created as a result of such transactions or projects.

SECTION 19. Section 20 of chapter 44 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth sentence and inserting in place thereof the following 3 sentences:-

Any premium received upon the sale of notes, less the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing the notes, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of the notes, shall be applied to the first payment of interest on the note. Any premium received upon the sale of bonds, less the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing the bonds, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of bonds shall be: (i) in the case of bonds sold by a city or town that have been excluded under section 21C of chapter 59 or bonds sold by a regional school district for which 1 or more member cities or towns have so excluded their share of the bond, applied by the treasurer to pay costs of the project being financed by the bonds and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by like amount; or (ii) in the case of any other bonds, applied by the treasurer to pay costs of the project being financed by the bonds and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by like amount; provided, however, that in the case of a bond under clause (ii), if any such premium or accrued interest is not so applied, any such premium or accrued interest shall be appropriated to pay costs of a project for which the city, town or district has authorized a borrowing or may authorize a borrowing. Notwithstanding this section, any premium and accrued interest received on account of an issue of bonds, less the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing the bonds, not in excess of $50,000 may be applied, with the approval of the chief executive officer in a city of town, for the payment of indebtedness.

SECTION 20. Section 28A of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “notes”, in line 5, the following words:- , the provisions of section 21C relating to lease purchase financing agreements.

SECTION 21. Section 31 of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “section”, in line 14, the following words:- for such an emergency.

SECTION 22. Said section 31 of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 39 and 40, the words “judgments, awards or payments” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- judgments, which shall mean final awards or payments,.

SECTION 23. Said section 31 of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 42, the word “council” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- counsel.

SECTION 24. Said section 31 of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 49, the words “otherwise made provision therefor” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- made provision therefor by borrowing under section 7 or otherwise.

SECTION 25. Section 63 of said chapter 44, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 11, the words “clause (3) of section seven” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- section 7 to purchase land, or interests in land, or to construct or enlarge buildings, including the cost of original equipment and furnishings of the buildings or enlargements.

SECTION 26. Section 18 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 71, the words “an executor or administrator” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a personal representative.

SECTION 27. Said section 18 of said chapter 59, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 72 and 73, the words “executor or administrator” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- personal representative.

SECTION 28. Section 2A of chapter 61A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the figure “25” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 25A.

SECTION 29. Subsection (x) of section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as added by section 29 of chapter 24 of the acts of 2021, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following 2 sentences:- With respect to a taxpayer who is a nonresident for part of the taxable year, the credit shall be further limited to the amount of allowable credit multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the taxable year the person resided in the commonwealth and the denominator of which shall be the number of days in the taxable year. A person who is a nonresident for the entire taxable year shall not be allowed the credit.

SECTION 30. The last sentence of said subsection (x) of said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so added, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “excess”, the second time it appears, the following words:- without interest.

SECTION 31. Subsection (y) of said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so added, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following 2 sentences:- With respect to a taxpayer who is a nonresident for part of the taxable year, the credit shall be further limited to the amount of allowable credit multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the taxable year the person resided in the commonwealth and the denominator of which shall be the number of days in the taxable year. A person who is a nonresident for the entire taxable year shall not be allowed the credit.

SECTION 32. The last sentence of said subsection (y) of said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so added, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “excess”, the second time it appears, the following words:- without interest.

SECTION 33. Said chapter 75 is hereby further amended by striking out section 45, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 45. There shall be within the McCormack graduate school of policy and global studies at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, the Edward J. Collins, Jr. center for public management. The center shall analyze and study economic trends in the commonwealth and shall provide its analysis to elected officials. The center shall continuously research and inform elected officials on the following subject areas:

(i) the effectiveness of the commonwealth’s economic development incentive programs, including, but not limited to, tax credits, loan and matching grant programs;

(ii) job creation programs;

(iii) tax policy;

(iv) workforce training and development programs; and

(v) the regional and national competitiveness of the state’s economy.

The center shall work with existing research entities within the University of Massachusetts system and other public agencies to prepare timely analysis of the economy of the commonwealth and other economic indicators.

SECTION 34. Section 45A of chapter 75 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.

SECTION 35. Section 45B of said chapter 75, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 7, the words “section 45” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- section 12 of chapter 40G.

SECTION 36. Section 7E of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “buses”, in line 3, the following words:- , emergency vehicles operated by the department of fire services.

SECTION 37. Said section 7E of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “service”, in line 17, the following words:- or full-time employees or contract employees employed by or under contract to the department of fire services.

SECTION 38. Section 37 of chapter 130 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph.

SECTION 39. Section 42 of chapter 132 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the words “by certified mail or hand deliver” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- in accordance with guidelines posted by the department.

SECTION 40. Said section 42 of said chapter 132, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 8 and 9, the words “by certified mail or hand deliver,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- in accordance with guidelines posted by the department.

SECTION 41. Section 21 of chapter 218 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 9, the words “or an” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- in any amount or any other.

SECTION 42. Said section 21 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 43 and 44, the words “or an action by a city or town which shall not exceed $15,000” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- in any amount or any other action by a city or town which shall not exceed $15,000 or an action.

SECTION 43. Section 2 of chapter 112 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “7002-0015” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-0016.

SECTION 44. Section 11 of said chapter 112 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “7002-0015” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-0016.

SECTION 45. Section 2 of chapter 209 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2800-7031” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2800-7033.

SECTION 46. Item 2000-7081 of section 2A of said chapter 209 is hereby amended by striking out the words “cities and towns” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the commonwealth’s political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, cities, towns, counties, and districts, federally-recognized and state-recognized tribes and any authority, commission, board or instrumentality thereof.

SECTION 47. Said item 2000-7081 of said section 2A of said chapter 209 is hereby further amended by striking out the words “all the members of the city council in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter, the vote of the city council in a city not having such a charter, subject to the charter of such a city, and the majority vote of the selectboard in a town” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the grantee’s legislative body, board of directors or equivalent entity.

SECTION 48. Section 2C of said chapter 209 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2000-7061” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2000-7065.

SECTION 49. Section 85 of said chapter 209 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2800-7031” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2800-7033.

SECTION 50. Said section 85 of said chapter 209 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “2000-7061” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2800-7065.

SECTION 51. Section 2A of chapter 228 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “6720-1351” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-1351.

SECTION 52. Said section 2A of said chapter 228 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “7002-1501” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-1521.

SECTION 53. Said section 2A of said chapter 228 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “7002-8006” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-8024.

SECTION 54. Said section 2A of said chapter 228 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “7002-8007” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-8025.

SECTION 55. Said section 2A of said chapter 228 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “7002-8019” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7002-8026.

SECTION 56. Section 2B of said chapter 228 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “7009-2005” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7009-2007.

SECTION 57. Said section 2B of said chapter 228 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “0640-0302” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 0640-0304.

SECTION 58. Subsection (b) of section 103 of chapter 253 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the words “by the chief justice of the supreme judicial court” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- by the civil rights and social justice section council of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

SECTION 59. Subsection (d) of section 108 of said chapter 253 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2021” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2022.

SECTION 60. Subsection (b) of section 2 of chapter 355 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the words “1 year” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 2 years.

SECTION 61. Subsection (c) of said section 2 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The survey plan shall be subject to the approval of the division and recorded in the Hampshire district registry of deeds within 2 years of the acceptance by the board and approval by the division.

SECTION 62. Section 3 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the first 2 sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a non-budgeted special revenue fund called the Lampson Brook Farm Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall not be subject to appropriation and shall be administered by the board consistent with the management plan.

SECTION 63. Said section 3 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 4, the words “bond revenues or”.

SECTION 64. Said section 3 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 8, the words “including, but not limited to, any ground lease payments from the enterprise zone parcel or” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- and.

SECTION 65. Said section 3 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 14, the words “shall be held in an expendable trust and”.

SECTION 66. Said section 3 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out the fifth sentence.

SECTION 67. Section 4 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 4 to 8, inclusive, the words “. The division shall certify that the plans are sufficient to ensure the permanent protection and ownership of all parcels comprising the Lampson Brook Farm. The division shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means of its certification of the plans. Parcels not transferred by the board pursuant to this act on or before the division notifies the house and senate committees on ways and means of its certification of the survey and management plans” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The parcels comprising Lampson Brook Farm.

SECTION 68. Said section 4 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “board”, in line 10, the following words:- , unless and until conveyed as provided for in this act.

SECTION 69. Subsection (a) of section 5 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the first 3 sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 3 sentences:- Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division, with the approval of the board and consistent with the recommendations of the management plan, shall seek proposals and select nonprofit organizations to receive the fee interest in the community farm parcel and the forest parcel and a conservation and preservation restriction upon the community farm parcel through a competitive process. Preference shall be given to those qualified applicants that propose to own both the community farm and forest parcels and provide farm management services that most closely meets the recommendations of the management plan and that offer the most experience in resource stewardship. The value of the community farm parcel and the forest parcel shall be determined as restricted by the associated conservation and preservation restrictions and applicants may utilize appropriate private, state or federal grants to pay for the restricted value as determined by an independent appraisal, prepared in accordance with the usual and customary professional appraisal practices, by a qualified appraiser commissioned by the division.

SECTION 70. Subsection (b) of said section 5 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the first 2 sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division may convey the fee interest in the community farm parcel to the nonprofit organization selected pursuant to subsection (a); provided, however, that such nonprofit organization shall have at least the following purposes: (i) historic preservation; (ii) passive recreation; (iii) promotion of small-scale farming, local food production and food system development; and (iv) farm management services. Notwithstanding said sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of said chapter 7C or any general or special law to the contrary, the division may convey a conservation and preservation restriction, within the meaning of section 31 of chapter 184 of the General Laws and subject to section 32 of said chapter 184, on the community farm parcel to a qualified organization selected under said subsection (a) that is organized for purposes that include farmland conservation and historic preservation.

SECTION 71. Said section 5 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division may convey the forest parcel to the nonprofit organization selected pursuant to subsection (a); provided, however, that such organization shall be organized for at least forest conservation and management purposes. The division shall retain or convey, as applicable, a conservation restriction upon the forest parcel, within the meaning of section 31 of chapter 184 of the General Laws and subject to section 32 of said chapter 184, which shall be under the joint care and control of the department of conservation and recreation and the conservation commission of the town of Belchertown created pursuant to section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws.

SECTION 72. Section 6 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the first 2 sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division, with the approval of the board, shall convey the Jepson farmstead parcel, for no consideration other than the performance of the obligations under this act, to the New England Small Farm Institute, Inc. or its successor organization; provided, however, that any transfer to a successor organization shall be approved by the board. Notwithstanding said sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of said chapter 7C or any general or special law to the contrary, the division may convey a preservation restriction, within the meaning of section 31 of chapter 184 of the General Laws and subject to section 32 of said chapter 184, on the Jepson farmstead parcel to a qualified entity selected under subsection (a) of section 5.

SECTION 73. Said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out section 7 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 7. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division, with the approval of the board and consistent with the recommendations of the management plan, is authorized to sell the enterprise zone parcel to a nonprofit organization or a private entity through a competitive process. The selection shall be based on: (i) the total amount of the proposed purchase payment; (ii) the compatibility of the proposal with the management plan; (iii) the applicant’s ability to steward the parcel; and (iv) any other criteria as determined by the board. The board may utilize the fund to restore or partially restore the enterprise zone parcel to successfully complete the transition from the former dairy farm into sustainable natural resource-based enterprises compatible with the management plan with provision for public access, tourism and public education value and public benefits. Sale proceeds shall be deposited into the fund. The owner of the enterprise zone parcel shall manage the parcel in compliance with the management plan and the deed shall include a provision requiring compliance with the management plan.

SECTION 74. Section 8 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “complete”, in line 4, the following words:- and implement.

SECTION 75. Said section 8 of said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 12, the words “historic”.

SECTION 76. Said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by striking out section 9 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 9. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any general or special law to the contrary, the division may grant a permanent access easement to or enter into an agreement with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts, in consultation with the Mill Valley Snowmobile Club, Inc., for the snowmobile trail that crosses the Lampson Brook Farm as described in the management plan and subject to the conservation restriction.

SECTION 77. Section 10 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The division may sell or lease that parcel to a purchaser or lessee selected through a competitive process as determined by the division, which shall include consideration of the impact any such sale or lease may have on adjacent property.

SECTION 78. Section 12 of said chapter 355 is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the first time it appears, the word “state” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- central.

SECTION 79. Said chapter 355 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION 13. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws, the division of capital asset management and maintenance may transfer care and control of the commercial agricultural parcel to the department of agricultural resources.

SECTION 80. Section 2A of chapter 358 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “0640-0304” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 0640-0306.

SECTION 81. Subsection (b) of section 93 of said chapter 358 is hereby amended by striking out the words “the chairs of the joint committee on community development and small business, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker; 1 member of the senate appointed by the senate president” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the senate chair of the joint committee on community development and small businesses and shall serve as co-chair.

SECTION 82. Section 2 of chapter 24 of the acts of 2021 is hereby amended by inserting after item 1599-7106 the following item:-

1599-9817For a reserve to enhance, expand and strengthen Medicaid home and community-based services; provided, that the secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, may transfer funds from this item to state agencies as defined under section 1 of chapter 29 of the General Laws…...$300,000,000

Home and Community-Based Services Federal Investment Fund……100%

SECTION 83. Item 4000-0300 of said section 2 of said chapter 24 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “disorder”, the fourth time it appears, the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended for the operation of the special legislative commission to study poverty in the commonwealth established in chapter 74 of the acts of 2021 for expenses including, but not limited to, costs related to personnel, research, public hearings and forums and document preparation.

SECTION 84. Item 4003-0122 of said section 2 of said chapter 24 is hereby amended by inserting after the word “adults”, the second time it appears, the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $12,000,000 shall be expended for the resettlement agencies in the commonwealth set forth herein that contract with the United States Department of State to resettle refugees and immigrants and to support the evacuees of the crisis in Afghanistan; provided further, that not less than $5,000 shall be allocated per Afghan arrival to each agency through the office for refugees and immigrants within 30 days of the agreement each agency signs with a national voluntary agency to receive Afghan parolees in the commonwealth, of which 75 per cent shall be spent on direct assistance for the individual, at the discretion of the agency, and 25 per cent shall be to support the infrastructure of the resettlement agencies; provided further, that not less than $4,500,000 of said funds shall be allocated to the resettlement agencies to assist humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan with obtaining a secure immigration status in the United States.

SECTION 85. Item 8200-0200 of said section 2 of said chapter 24 is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “2020” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for a needs-based scholarship pilot program to provide financial assistance to police recruits who actively enroll in a training program conducted by the municipal police training committee; provided, that scholarships shall be used to: (i) promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the hiring of police recruits; (ii) defray the upfront costs for qualified underrepresented and economically-disadvantaged individuals enrolled in the training program; and (iii) increase municipal police employment opportunities for underrepresented and economically-disadvantaged populations; provided, that the amount of the scholarship awarded under this item shall be $5,000 per eligible trainee or recruit; provided further, that funds in this item shall be used to directly reimburse recruits enrolled in the training program; provided, further that scholarships shall be disbursed to eligible recruits under this item in a regionally equitable manner; provided further, that not later than April 15, 2022, the executive office of public safety and security shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security detailing the needs-based criteria established for creating the scholarships; and provided further, that not later than June 30 of each year of this item, the executive office shall provide a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public safety and homeland security detailing expenditures from this item and the status of the scholarship program including, but not be limited to: (a) the number of scholarship applications; (b) the number of successful scholar applicants; and (c) the needs-based criteria used to determine successful applications.

SECTION 86. Subsection (c) of section 130 of said chapter 24 is hereby amended by striking out the words “December 1, 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 1, 2022.

SECTION 87. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund known as the Home and Community-Based Services Federal Investment Fund. The fund shall be credited with an amount equal to the amount of federal financial participation received by the commonwealth pursuant to section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, hereinafter referred to as “ARPA”. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, subject to appropriation, to support: (i) the home and community-based services workforce; (ii) access to and promotion of home and community-based services and supports; and (iii) home and community-based services technology and infrastructure. Expenditures from the fund shall be governed by requirements established in ARPA and any guidance related to ARPA issued by the federal government. The fund shall not be subject to section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws.

SECTION 88. There shall be established a fund known as the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Fund to be administered by the executive office for administration and finance. The purpose of the fund shall be to issue direct financial support to eligible essential workers for in-person work performed during the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020. There shall be credited to the fund all amounts that are 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 appropriation and any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not be part of the consolidated net surplus for purposes of section 5C of chapter 29 of the General Laws and shall not revert to the General Fund.

SECTION 89. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, to address disruptions caused by the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and the effects of the governor’s March 10, 2020 declaration of a state of emergency, the executive office for administration and finance shall administer a COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program to provide direct financial support to essential workers. The executive office for administration and finance, in consultation with the premium pay advisory panel established in subsection (b), shall determine: (i) eligibility for the program; (ii) the amount of financial support to be provided; and (iii) the method of payment of the financial support, which may include, but shall not be limited to, direct cash payments to eligible essential workers or refundable tax credits; provided, however, that financial support shall be not more than $2,000 per essential worker; provided further, that an essential worker shall only be eligible if: (a) their household income is not more than 300 per cent of the federal poverty level as calculated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and (b) they worked in person during the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020.

(b) (1) There shall be a premium pay advisory panel to make recommendations to the secretary of administration and finance on the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program. The panel shall consist of: 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 6 members appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall represent the interests of essential workers, 4 of whom shall be from recognized labor organizations advocating on behalf of essential workers; 1 member appointed by the attorney general; 1 member appointed by the state auditor; 3 members appointed by the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; 1 member appointed by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 member appointed by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Inc.; 1 member appointed by the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Inc.; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc.; and 1 member appointed by the Association of Behavioral Healthcare. The panel shall elect co-chairs from among its members.

(2) The panel shall make recommendations to the secretary of administration and finance on the eligibility for, and issuance of, direct financial support to private and public essential workers, which may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) health care, behavioral health and homecare workers; (ii) long-term care workers; (iii) public health staff; (iv) childcare workers, educators and other education staff; (v) social service and human services staff; (vi) workers at farms, food production facilities, grocery stores and other service workers; (vii) transportation workers; (viii) utility workers and technicians; and (ix) foster care parents. The recommendations shall include eligibility criteria and the proposed amount and method of payment of financial support. The recommendations shall prioritize lower-income essential workers who performed essential duties in-person since the start of the state of emergency declared by the governor on March 10, 2020. The panel shall also consider factors including, but not limited to, an essential worker’s increased financial burden and increased risk of exposure to the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, due to the nature of their work and any bonuses or hazard pay a worker has already received for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount thereof. The recommendations shall, to the extent feasible, seek to comply with rules and guidance pertaining to eligible uses of coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802(c).

(3) Not later than February 1, 2022, the secretary of administration and finance shall consult with the panel and the panel shall provide its recommendations to the secretary of administration and finance.

(c)(1) The executive office for administration and finance may structure the payment of financial support to eligible essential workers in the form of a 1-time refundable tax credit against the tax liability imposed by chapter 62 of the General Laws. To claim the credit, a taxpayer shall make the applicable attestation on the return required under section 6 of chapter 62C of the General Laws. The amount of the credit shall be equal to a set amount per return in an amount to be determined by the executive office that is not more than $2,000; provided, however, that the amount of the credit may be doubled if 2 eligible essential workers are filing a joint return. If the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s tax liability, the commissioner of revenue shall treat the excess as an overpayment and shall pay the taxpayer the entire amount of the excess without interest. A taxpayer who claims the credit shall maintain records sufficient to document eligibility for the credit.

(2) The commissioner of revenue may prescribe regulations or other guidance necessary for the implementation and administration of the credit.

(d) The commissioner of revenue may disclose information necessary for the administration of the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Program to the executive office for administration and finance or any department or agency thereof designated by the executive office. The disclosure of such information shall not be subject to the prohibition provided by subsection (a) of section 21 of Chapter 62C of the General Laws; provided, however, that any document disclosed pursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be public record under clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws or under chapter 66 of the General Laws.

(e) The executive office for administration and finance shall establish a public information campaign to provide notice and promote awareness of the availability financial support for essential workers eligible under this section.

SECTION 90. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the special commission established in section 105 of 227 of the acts of 2020 is hereby revived and continued to March 31, 2022. The special commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on advanced information technology, the internet and cybersecurity not later than March 31, 2022.

SECTION 91. (a) There shall be a Behavioral Health Trust Fund that shall be administered by the commissioner of public health, who shall expend the funds, subject to appropriation, for the purpose of addressing barriers to the delivery of an equitable, culturally-competent, affordable and clinically-appropriate continuum of behavioral health care and services. There shall be credited to the fund all amounts that are 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 close of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.

(b)(1) There shall be a behavioral health advisory commission to make recommendations to the legislature on the disbursement of the money in the fund. The commission shall consist of: the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use disorder and recovery, who shall serve as co-chairs; the chairs of the joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion; 3 members appointed by the senate president who work in the behavioral health field, 1 of whom shall be a professional in the field of children’s mental health; 3 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who work in the behavioral health field, 1 of whom shall be a professional in the field of children’s mental health; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the secretary of health and human services; the president of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc., or a designee; the president of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., or a designee; the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, Inc., or a designee; the executive director of Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc. or a designee; and 2 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have expertise in developing behavioral health workforce training education and 1 of whom shall have expertise in addressing disparities in access to mental and behavioral health care for populations disproportionately experiencing barriers to care.

(2) The commission shall identify and assess: (i) current behavioral health workforce challenges including, but not limited to: (A) existing workforce pipeline issues; (B) emerging workforce needs; and (C) the availability of trauma-informed supports and services for behavioral health practitioners and related staff; (ii) racial and ethnic disparities in mental and behavioral health care; (iii) economic barriers to treatment; (iv) access to early intervention services; (v) diversion for people with mental illness and substance use disorder from the criminal legal system; (vi) access to community-based services; and (vii) any other factors the commission deems relevant for addressing barriers to the delivery of an equitable, culturally-competent, affordable and clinically-appropriate continuum of behavioral health care and services. Based on the commission’s findings, the commission shall make recommendations for the disbursement of money in the fund. The commission’s recommendations shall prioritize the needs of communities disproportionately impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic and comply with rules and guidance pertaining to eligible uses of coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802(c).

(3) The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than March 1, 2022.

(c) Annually, not later than October 1, the commissioner shall file a report with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the fund’s activities, which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the source and amount of funds received; and (ii) the expenditures made from the fund and the purposes of such expenditures.

SECTION 92. (a) There shall be within the executive office for administration and finance, but not subject to the control of the office, a federal funds equity and accountability review panel. The panel shall consist of: 1 member appointed by the secretary of administration and finance, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the Coalition for an Equitable Economy, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the state auditor; 1 member appointed by the comptroller; 1 member appointed by the inspector general; 1 member appointed by the executive director of the supplier diversity office; the chief data officer for the commonwealth or a designee; the chief digital officer for the commonwealth or a designee; 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, Inc. with expertise in the non-profit and human services sector serving communities disproportionately impacted the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of women; 1 member appointed by Common Cause Massachusetts; 1 member appointed by the Center for Women and Enterprise, Inc.; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of African Americans; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of persons with disabilities; and 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of Latinos and Latinas. The panel shall meet publicly not less than monthly and appointments shall be made not later than December 31, 2021. The panel shall hold its first meeting not later than 90 days after the effective date of this act. The executive office for administration and finance shall provide administrative support to the panel as appropriate.

(b) The panel shall, in collaboration with the secretary of administration and finance, create a public user-friendly database and website to track in near real-time the amount and percentage, by spending category, of funds from the federal COVID-19 response fund, established in section 2JJJJJ of chapter 29 of the General Laws, spent in communities that were disproportionally impacted by the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic, including, but not limited to: (i) spending received by environmental justice populations as defined in section 62 of chapter 30 of the General Laws or communities that score in the top half of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social vulnerability index; (ii) a breakdown of contract and sub-contract dollars awarded to diverse businesses, as defined in section 58 of chapter 7 of the General Laws, disaggregated by the category of the business owners of such enterprises; (iii) a breakdown of spending by zip code and statewide; and (iv) any other data or analysis the panel deems necessary to carry out its charge. Information on the database shall be made available in a machine-readable, downloadable format. The database shall be maintained and regularly updated by the executive office for administration and finance.

(c) All state and municipal agencies receiving funds appropriated from the federal COVID-19 response fund, established in section 2JJJJJ of chapter 29 of the General Laws, or funds expended pursuant to section 4 of chapter 22 of the acts of 2021, shall submit the data required under this section in a timeframe established by the panel and shall comply with any request from the panel for information and data necessary to achieve the purposes of this section. Not later than March 31, 2022, the panel shall create and make available to funding recipients standardized electronic reporting forms for different categories of funding to track the geography and demography of end recipients of funding.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2022, the database and website required under subsection (a) shall be operative and publicly available on the website of the executive office for administration and finance.

(e) The panel shall dissolve on January 1, 2027 or upon a vote of the majority of the members of the panel that the panel has completed its work, whichever is sooner.

SECTION 93. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, every state authority and state agency, as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 of the General Laws, that issues a request for proposals using funds received by the commonwealth under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802, and appropriated under this act shall, in consultation with the supplier diversity office established under section 58A of chapter 7 of the General Laws and the federal funds equity and accountability review panel established in section 92, promulgate rules or regulations to ensure the fair participation of diverse businesses, as defined in section 58 of said chapter 7, for all such requests.

The rules or regulations shall, consistent with state and federal law, require the establishment of participation goals for diverse businesses that are equal to or exceed the combined participation goals for such enterprises established pursuant to section 6 of chapter 7C of the General Laws. All requests for proposals issued by a state authority or state agency shall include a scoring factor to encourage meeting the participation goals required under this paragraph.

SECTION 94. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, the following items shall be deducted from federal gross income for the purpose of determining Massachusetts gross income under section 2 of chapter 62 of the General Laws: (i) an amount that, but for this section, would be included in the gross income, in whole or in part, of an eligible recipient, as described in subsection (a) of section 1102 of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136, because of the forgiveness described in subsection (b) of section 1106 of said federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136; (ii) an amount of an advance received pursuant to subsection (e) of section 1110 of said federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136; (iii) an amount of any payment described in subsection (c) of section 1112 of said federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-136; (iv) an amount of funding received pursuant to section 331 of the federal Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, P.L. 116-260; (v) any grant made under section 324 of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, P.L. 116-260; and (vi) any amount received from the Administrator of the Small Business Administration in the form of a restaurant revitalization grant under section 5003 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2.

SECTION 95. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, any amount received from a small business relief program administered through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation after March 10, 2020, for purposes of providing emergency COVID-19 relief, including grants and any portion of a loan subsequently forgiven, shall be deducted from federal gross income for the purpose of determining Massachusetts gross income under section 2 of chapter 62 of the General Laws and from federal gross income for purposes of determining Massachusetts gross income under section 30 of chapter 63 of the General Laws.

SECTION 96. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, items funded in this act, including appropriations in section 2A and all other authorized uses, shall be supported through the following resources: (i) up to $2,500,000,000 from the federal COVID-19 response fund established in section 2JJJJJ of chapter 29 of the General Laws; and (ii) up to $1,450,000,000 from the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021; provided, however, that the secretary of administration and finance shall ensure that the coronavirus state fiscal recovery fund moneys received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802, comply with applicable federal law, including statutes, regulations and sub-regulatory guidance; provided further, that the appropriations in the items funded in said section 2A shall not be used to supplant existing appropriations. The secretary shall, beginning with the quarter ending on March 31, 2022, provide quarterly reports to the senate and house committees on ways and means detailing the source of revenue matched to each item in this act for all expenditures made during that quarter.

SECTION 97. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than 14 days after the effective date of this act, $500,000,000 shall be transferred from either the federal COVID-19 response fund established in section 2JJJJJ of chapter 29 of the General Laws or the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021 to the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay Fund established in section 88; provided, however, that $40,000,000 shall be distributed by the secretary of administration and finance for 1-time payments not to exceed $2,000 to front-line state employees required to work in-person during the winter of 2020 to 2021; and provided further, that the secretary of administration and finance may authorize the transfer of funds for the 1-time payments to the items necessary to meet the necessary costs of those payments.

SECTION 98. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall transfer: (i) an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 from the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021 to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Investment Fund established in section 6 of chapter 23I of the General Laws; and (ii) an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 from the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021 to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund established in section 9 of chapter 44B of the General Laws.

SECTION 99. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall transfer $500,000,000 to the Unemployment Compensation Fund established in section 48 of chapter 151A of the General Laws.

SECTION 100. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the special commission established in section 22 of chapter 132 of the acts of 2019 is hereby revived and continued to March 31, 2022. The special commission shall file its report and recommendations pursuant to subsection (c) of said section 22 of said chapter 132 with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on education and the rural policy advisory commission not later than March 31, 2022.

SECTION 101. Notwithstanding the February 1, 2018 reporting deadline established in section 135 of chapter 47 of the acts of 2017 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives shall receive a report of the former special commission established by said section 135 of said chapter 47 to study and report on childhood vision and eye health.

SECTION 102. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and to the extent allowed by federal law, the secretary may: (i) transfer funds authorized for expenditure in this act to agencies charged with implementation of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; (ii) incur expenditures for charges related to the administrative costs of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; and (iii) ensure that the commonwealth meets the efficient administration and statewide accountability requirements in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Administrative charges shall be based on rates approved in accordance relevant guidance, if any, issued by the United States Office of Management and Budget applicable to federal funds provided under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

SECTION 103. For the purposes identified in the items in section 2A, the secretary of administration and finance shall transfer funds to departments and other public entities. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary shall: (i) require that all expenditures of Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund allocated to the commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802 be spent in compliance with applicable federal law, including statutes, regulations and sub-regulatory guidance; (ii) endeavor to maximize federal revenue available to the commonwealth and to minimize the risk that federal funds are returned or left unspent due to noncompliance with federal requirements; (iii) require that departments administering such funds and all recipients and sub-recipients shall receive funds conditioned on their cooperation with applicable federal reporting and compliance requirements; and (iv) approve the transfer of funds from reserves appropriated in this act only upon confirmation that they will be spent exclusively on allowable purposes under relevant federal law. The secretary may direct the use of General Fund money for purposes authorized under this act where the secretary has determined that reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or another federal source is available to reimburse spending.

SECTION 104. The secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the office of the comptroller, shall provide reporting on expenditures made by the commonwealth for the purposes identified in section 2A in the manner described by chapter 288 of the acts of 2020; provided, however, that the reporting shall, to the extent practicable, provide a narrative explanation of each program or project supported by the funds organized in a user-friendly format that enables the public to easily identify programs or projects by category of spending.

SECTION 105. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon calculating the extent of the commonwealth’s reduction in revenue pursuant to federal guidance related to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, 42 U.S.C. 802(c)(1)(C), the secretary of administration and finance shall submit the calculation, including the methodology used to determine said calculation, to the senate and house committees on ways and means; provided, however, that the calculation and methodology shall be submitted in accordance with this section for any year that the calculations are required to be calculated in accordance with federal guidance.

SECTION 106. Section 82 shall take effect on July 1, 2021.