SENATE DOCKET, NO. 745        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 837

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the original infrastructure debt at  the University of Massachusetts Boston.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 745        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 837

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 749 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the original infrastructure debt at  the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Resolved, there shall be a special joint legislative commission to evaluate the original infrastructure debt associated with all repair and maintenance and capital construction-improvement projects completed at UMass Boston.

Data collected, studies, and reports prepared by or for UMass Boston, the University of Massachusetts President’s Office, UMass Building Authority, UMass Board of Trustees, and other related offices will be reviewed to assess the impact of the original infrastructure debt on the day-to-day operations of the UMass Boston campus. Upon completion of its review and evaluation, the commission will issue a report of its findings and recommendations, including but not limited to amounts of the debt that should either be reimbursed, paid off, and/or assumed by the Commonwealth instead of UMass Boston per a recommended schedule.

The commission shall consist of:  1 person to be appointed by the senate president who shall serve as co-chair; 1 person to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as co-chair; the Senior Vice President for Administration  and  Finance and Treasurer, UMass President’s Office or a designee: the Chair of the Committee on Administration and Finance, UMass Board of Trustees or a designee; the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, UMass Boston or a designee; the President of UMass Boston Student Government or a designee;  and 7 persons to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be independent and qualified third party specialists-consultants in debt financing and debt management for public higher educational institutions, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the UMass Boston Board of Visitors, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the UMass Boston Alumni Association, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the UMass Boston Faculty Senate,1 of whom shall be a representative of the UMass Labor Employee Union, and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the UMass Building Authority.

Meetings of the commission shall be subject to all applicable provisions of MGL, Chapter 30A.  The commission will meet on a regular basis and will file a report of its findings and recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means, and the governor by December 31, 2021.