SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2322        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 130

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Cronin

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

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

An Act to promote downtown vitality.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2322        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 130

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act to promote downtown vitality.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 35PPP, the following new section: 

Section 35QQQ. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Agency”, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

“Commercial areas”, meaning central business districts, town centers, commercial corridors (“Main Streets”), neighborhood-serving commercial districts, and other walkable, mixed-use areas.

“District management entities”, which may include business improvement districts as defined in section 1 of chapter 40o of the general laws, parking benefit districts as defined in section 22A1/2 of chapter 40 of the general laws, cultural districts as defined in section 58A of chapter 10 of the general laws, or other district management strategies approved by the agency.

“Secretary”, the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

''Fund'', the Downtown Vitality Fund, established under subsection (b) of section 35QQQ of chapter 10 of the general laws.

''Dedicated remote retailers sales tax revenue amount'', all moneys received by the commonwealth equal to 5 per cent of the receipts from sales from remote retailers, which include both remote marketplace sellers and remote marketplace facilitators as defined by 830 CMR 64H.1.9. 

(b) There is hereby established on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Downtown Vitality Fund. There shall be credited to the fund the dedicated remote retailers sales tax revenue amount. Annual receipts into the fund on account of any fiscal year shall be considered to meet the full obligation of the commonwealth to the fund for said fiscal year.

(c) Amounts in the fund shall be held by the Executive Office of Economic Development, exclusively for the purposes of the fund, and the agency shall disburse amounts in the fund, without further appropriation, upon the request from time to time of its Secretary. All amounts in the fund, including investment earnings, shall be available for expenditure by the agency for any lawful purpose.

(d) The agency shall report annually on grants dispersed by the fund to the clerks of the house and senate and to the house and senate committees on ways and means.

(e) The agency shall make expenditures from the fund for the following purposes and subject to the following guidelines: 

(1) To provide grants to establish district management entities in commercial areas.

(2) To provide operating grants to help strengthen and sustain existing district management entities approved by the agency. sustain.

(3) To provide technical assistance grants for local district management entities to conduct studies or launch new programs, and which might be paid to a third-party entity.

(4) The agency will establish guidelines for awarding grants, which will incorporate the following priorities: support small business districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income areas; expand entrepreneurship opportunities among underrepresented communities; strengthen cultural identity and prevent cultural displacement; provide multi-year operating funding where appropriate; and encourage a local match set at a level commensurate with the strength of the local market economy. 

(f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the secretary shall file a report in writing with the joint committee on community development and small businesses and the house and senate committees on ways and means concerning the grants made in the fiscal year ending on the preceding June 30.

(g) The secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out this section, including providing an application and selection process.

(h) There shall be established a board to be known as the Downtown Vitality Advisory Board. Said board shall consist of 15 members, who shall be citizens of the commonwealth, and appointed by the secretary.  The members of the board shall include at least one representative of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment); at least one representative of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; at least two business improvement districts; at least two cultural districts; at least one Gateway City mayor, manager, or economic development director; at least one non-Gateway City municipal representative; and at least three members from small businesses or groups serving underrepresented communities, including immigrants and people of color. Of the members originally appointed, 3 shall serve a term of 1 year, 3 shall serve a term of 2 years, and 3 shall serve a term of 3 years in a manner determined by the director. Thereafter, as the terms of said members expire, the director shall appoint members for terms of 2 years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the director for the remainder of the unexpired term. All members shall serve until the qualification of their respective successors. Members shall serve without compensation. The board shall advise the director on the activities and uses of the fund including, but not limited to: reviewing and making recommendations on grant requirements and selection criteria, and reviewing grant applications and making recommendations relative to grant awards. The advisory board shall, from time to time, submit recommendations to the legislature on any legislative changes it deems necessary for the successful operation of the fund. 

(i) The secretary may contract with a private organization to carry out some or all of the agency’s duties provided in this section.

SECTION 2. Section 22A of chapter 40, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in paragraph 1, line 28, after the phrase “improvements to the public realm” the following words: “including district management activities and operations”

SECTION 3. Section 22C of said chapter 40, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 11, after the phrase, “public transportation station accessibility improvements” the following words: “district management activities and operations,”