Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-295-R3

3rd Redraft ENV 295

MWRA Entrance Fees

Mr. Joyce moved that the proposed new text be amended moved that the bill be amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-

SECTION __. Chapter 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 31 the following section:-

Section 31A. The department of environmental protection shall administer a matching grant program for communities who desire to join the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system for drinking water. Each grant shall match, on a 1:1 basis, money committed by a local government unit or a regional local governmental unit, as defined in section 1 of chapter 29C, to pay the entry fee established by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority under section 8 of chapter 372 of the acts of 1984. The department shall award grants only to a local governmental unit or regional local governmental unit that satisfies the department that it has committed funds to join said Authority. Should the local governmental unit or regional local governmental unit fail to join said Authority after receiving a grant under this section, the local governmental unit or regional local governmental unit shall return money granted under this section to the department.

SECTION __. The department of environmental protection shall promulgate regulations for additional financial assistance including, but not limited to, principal forgiveness, for the cost to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system for drinking water.

SECTION __. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority shall accept a 25 year interest free payment of the entry fee established by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority under section 8 of chapter 372 of the acts of 1984 for any local governmental unit or regional local governmental unit that joins the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system for drinking water prior to January 1, 2020.