Amendment #1 to H4237

An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges

The committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets recommends that the bill be amended CHAPTER 90 FORMULA COMMISSION. The Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets recommends that the bill be amended by adding the following section:--

“SECTION 4. There shall be a commission to study the distribution of Chapter 90 grants, for the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws. The commission shall examine the current formula used to distribute said grants to municipalities, evaluate the effectiveness and equity of said formula, and make recommendations to establish a formula that considers the current needs of municipalities.

The commission shall review all aspects of municipal road and bridge financing, including (i) the current allocation of Chapter 90 grants; (ii) the reflectiveness of municipalities’ needs in the proportional distribution of the Chapter 90 grants; (iii) any equity disparities that exist among municipalities, related to Chapter 90 grant distribution; and (iv) any alternative formulas that may create a more equitable distribution of Chapter 90 grants.

The commission shall consist of the following members: (1) the secretary of the executive office for administration and finance, or a designee; (2) the secretary of the Massachusetts department of transportation, or a designee; (3) the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development, or a designee; (4) the senate chair of the joint committee on transportation; (5) the house chair of the joint committee on transportation; (6) the chair of the senate committee on bonding, capital expenditures, and state assets; (7) the chair of the house committee on bonding, capital expenditures, and state assets; (8) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; (9) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and (10) 4 persons appointed by the governor, as follows: (i) 1 representative from the Massachusetts Municipal Association; (ii) 1 representative from the Transportation for Massachusetts Coalition (T4MA); (iii) 1 representative from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; and (iv) 1 representative from the Public Policy Center at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, including any new or revised Chapter 90 grant distribution formulas, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means no later than January 1, 2019.”