Budget Amendment ID: FY2017-S4-191

EDU 191

Municipal Dispute Resolution Grant Program

Ms. Lovely, Messrs. Moore, Brownsberger, Downing and Brady, Ms. Flanagan, Messrs. Eldridge and McGee and Ms. Creem moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7100-0700, by adding at the end thereof the following: “provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended for the operation of the municipal dispute resolution grant program administered by the office of public collaboration at the University of Massachusetts Boston under section 48 of chapter 75 of the General Laws”; and in said item by striking out the figures “$774,767” and inserting in place thereof the figures “$1,074,767”; and

amended further by inserting the following new section:-

“SECTION XX: Chapter 75 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following section:-

Section 48. Statewide Municipal Dispute Resolution Grant Program

(a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Facilitator”, an impartial person who manages meetings and group processes designed to enable participants to focus on substantive issues and goals.

''Mediator'', an impartial person who assists in the resolution of a conflict or dispute and meets the requirements of section 23C of chapter 233.

“Public dispute resolution”, an outcome-oriented process for securing actionable agreements for public conflict among identified parties who participate as negotiators, often on behalf of constituencies; includes mediation and consensus-building.

“Public engagement”, a participatory process that brings people together to address public issues that are often contentious, build understanding, solve shared problems and bring about positive change; includes public dialogue and deliberation.

(b) There shall be a statewide municipal dispute resolution grant program to be funded by the commonwealth. The mission of the grant program shall be to promote public confidence in local government by providing effective and innovative guidance and support to municipalities through technical assistance grants for public dispute resolution and public engagement initiatives to help municipalities manage and prevent public conflict. All municipalities in Massachusetts shall have access to such technical assistance grants to enable them to effectively and efficiently develop solutions to local and regional issues. The program shall be administered by the office of dispute resolution established under section 46, also known as the office of public collaboration. The office shall be authorized to expend appropriated funds on program administration and technical assistance grants to Massachusetts municipalities, on the basis of need in neighborhoods, local communities and regions. The office shall be authorized to advocate for funding and resources for the statewide municipal dispute resolution grant program and for other related programming. The office shall be authorized to establish rules and guidelines to effectuate the purposes of this section, including provisions for grant-making, outreach and education, monitoring and evaluation of the statewide program and grant-funded initiatives, and development of dispute resolution and public engagement technology and tools. The office shall establish and maintain a roster of qualified mediators, facilitators, trainers, and community mediation centers, for deployment on grant-funded projects under this program. The office shall establish a program advisory committee with balanced representation of interests across public, private and civic sectors.

(c) Funds appropriated or available for the purposes of this section shall be allocated for eligible municipal and regional public dispute resolution and public engagement projects in Massachusetts through the state office by means of project grants for technical assistance and related services. Grants shall be awarded for conflict assessment, training and capacity building, process design and management services to help municipalities manage and prevent public conflict. Grants awards shall be in the form of technical assistance services, tools and technology delivered by the office as well as monetary awards to municipalities to contract with mediators, facilitators, trainers and community mediation centers qualified by the office, and other types of technical experts. Where appropriate, the program shall require a cost-sharing match percentage of the grant amount. The office shall assist applicants in completing the necessary forms to access grant money. Grants may be awarded on a periodic or ongoing basis. Eligible applicants shall be selected for grants based on grant applications. Grant applications may be screened by a grant review committee established by the office to make recommendations. The office shall determine the final grant recipients and awards.

(d) Applicants for grants under this section must demonstrate compliance with eligibility criteria established by the office, including project criteria and requirements for matching funds. To qualify for funding, applicants must also comply with grant application procedures set by the office.

(e) Payments to grantees under this section shall be made pursuant to contracts with the University of Massachusetts Boston. The methods of payment or reimbursement for grantee project costs shall be specified by the office. All such arrangements shall conform to the provisions of this section and the rules and procedures of the office and the University of Massachusetts Boston.

(f) The office may accept and disburse from any public or private agency or person, any money for the purposes of this section and perform services and acts as may be necessary for the receipt and disbursement of such funds. The state comptroller, university controller, the office director and their authorized representatives shall have the power to inspect, examine and audit the grant program and grant administration and expenditures of grantees.

(g) Each grantee shall provide the office with data on grant project budgets, expenditures, related-services, activities and outcomes, and such other information that the office may require periodically for monitoring, evaluation, research and reporting purposes. The office shall provide periodic progress reports to the program advisory committee and shall report annually on the operations, activities and accomplishments of the statewide grant program funded pursuant to this section to the governor, the senate president, the house speaker, and the chairs of the committees on municipalities and regional government, and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means.”