Amendment #707 to H3400

An Amendment to Establish a Commission to Study State Spending

Representatives Lyons of Andover and Lombardo of Billerica move to amend the bill by adding at the end thereof the following new section:

SECTION XX. (a) Establishment.  There shall be established a commission to oversee an investigation and study of state spending in the following categories: 1) the total amount of the state budget that is being used to fund individual, family, and other benefits or expenditures on behalf of citizens of the United States who are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 2) the total amount of the state budget that is being used to fund individual, family, and other benefits or expenditures on behalf of persons holding Green Cards who are residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 3) the total amount of the state budget that is being used to fund individual, family, and other benefits or expenditures on behalf of citizens of the United States whose residence in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cannot be established; and 4) the total amount of the state budget that is being used to fund individual, family, and other benefits and expenditures on behalf of all other persons.

(b) Said commission shall also itemize expenditures used to provide services to residents of the Commonwealth, non-residents, and those whose residence cannot be identified with respect to: legal services, including but not limited to criminal defense costs; translations and translator services; the detention of prisoners; and the Health Safety Net program, including cost to government, cost shifting to other payers or insurers, and the cost to hospitals, clinics, and other health-care providers.

(c) In calculating the amounts described in subsections (a) and (b), the executive office of administration and finance shall utilize generally accepted accounting principles encompassing all state spending.

(d) Membership.  The commission shall consist of seven members as follows:

(i) the president of the senate or designee;

(ii) the speaker of the house or designee;

(iii) the minority leader of the senate or designee;

(iv) the minority leader of the house or designee;

(v) the inspector general or designee;

(vi) the Secretary of Administration and Finance or designee;

(vii) the State Auditor or a designee;

(e) Report.  The commission shall report the results of its investigation, together with drafts of legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, before January 1, 2014.