Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-41

OTH 41

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Municipal Study

Ms. Forry, Mr. Downing, Ms. Creem, Ms. Spilka, Ms. Lovely, Mr. Michael O. Moore, Ms. O'Connor Ives and Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended moved that the bill be amended by adding an outside section:

University of Massachusetts at Boston, through its office of public collaboration, shall conduct a study of current local and regional needs for conflict resolution and collaborative infrastructure in the Commonwealth.  The study will help guide the Commonwealth in developing policies and allocating resources for municipalities and other public agencies in addressing complex, and often contentions, community issues such as finances and budgets, land use, housing and economic development, that require joint problem-solving with citizens and stakeholders.

The study shall include but not be limited to:

1.A literature review of research and publications on the utilization by local governments of public policy dispute resolution and other collaborative processes to address complex, contentious public issues;

2.A municipal needs assessment involving select Massachusetts local government representatives, representatives of regional planning associations and municipal associations to delve deeper into the challenges faced by Massachusetts local governments;

3.  Investigation of existing infrastructure within Massachusetts like community mediation and other dispute resolution resources that can support municipal conflict resolution and collaborative problem-solving.

4. Investigation of programmatic approaches in other states for deployment and funding of community dispute resolution and public engagement and benchmarking effective programs and models for potential replication.

5. Preliminary design of a state-of-the-art evidence-based policy framework for state and private investment and provision of grants, technical resources and capacity-building services to local governments;

6. Recommendations for the infrastructure and resources needed to oversee and administer such a technical assistance grant program and recommendations for implementation and timeframes.

The study shall be completed and submitted to the chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means and the Secretary of the Administration and Finance not later than January  1, 2015.