Amendment #8 to S2021

Small Communities Water Infrastructure Grant Fund

Representatives Gobi of Spencer, Dykema of Holliston, Zlotnik of Gardner, Andrews of Orange and Ferguson of Holden moves to amend the bill in section 2A, by inserting after item 2200-0135, the following item;-

“2200-0136 To capitalize the Small Communities Water Infrastructure Grant Fund as established by section 2MMMM of chapter 29 of the General Laws…………$25,000,000”

And further moves to amend the bill, by inserting after section 33, the following section:-

SECTION 54. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2LLLL, the following section:-

“Section 2MMMM. There shall be set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Small Communities Water Infrastructure Grant Fund, into which shall be deposited amounts credited or transferred to the fund by any appropriations and authorizations of the general court, and other such amounts to be credited or transferred to the fund from any other source. The state treasurer as the custodian and treasurer of the fund shall receive and deposit in accordance with state law, all monies credited to such fund to provide the highest rate of interest consistent with the safety of the monies so deposited. All accrued fund investment income shall be credited to the fund. Monies deposited into the fund that are not expended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available in the following fiscal year.

Expenditures from the fund shall be made by the commissioner of the department of environmental protection solely to provide financial assistance to eligible municipalities and other local governmental units as defined pursuant to section 1 of chapter 29C, for: (i) grants for the costs related to the planning, design or construction of abatement facilities pursuant to section 33 of chapter 21; (ii) grants for costs related to the planning, design or construction for water pollution abatement projects as provided under section 33E of chapter 21; (iii) grants to subsidize the costs related to the construction of sewer collection systems; provided, however, that the awarding of such grants from this fund shall not restrict the awarding of any other grants or financial assistance pursuant to section 30A of chapter 21, or any other law or regulation; (iv) grants for the cost of the development of a water pollution abatement plan; provided, however, that the awarding of such grants from this fund shall not restrict the awarding of any other grants or financial assistance for such costs under section 31 of chapter 21, or any other law or regulation; (v) financial assistance grants for the cost of repairs, improvements, equipment and technical assistance directly related to public septic systems, storm water collection systems, drinking water supply systems and wells and water systems for fire control; (vi) funding for municipalities to provide technical and limited financial assistance grants to local residential property owners, including owners of mobile homes, relating to on-site septic disposal systems and the testing of drinking water wells; (vii) financial assistance grants for costs for emergency alternative public drinking water sources to substitute existing water sources or systems, that are unsafe for public health due to contamination; and (viii) financial assistance grants for costs of initial feasibility studies, planning, assessments, engineering surveys and project costing related to repairs, installation and improvements of public drinking water systems, wells, sewer collection systems, septic systems and fire control water systems. No expenditure shall be made from this fund to provide financial assistance to a municipality with more than 20,000 inhabitants or a local governmental unit, not a municipality, that has more than 20,000 service recipients.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #8 to S2021

Small Communities Water Infrastructure Grant Fund