Amendment #59 to H4601

Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust

Mr. Saunders of Belchertown moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 80 the following section:

“SECTION 80A. Notwithstanding section 23 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, section 31of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, a city, town or district that was a member unit of the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust in fiscal years 2026 or 2027 or before may amortize over fiscal years 2027 to 2032, inclusive, in equal installments or more rapidly, the amount of its unanticipated fiscal year 2026 or2027 Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust health insurance-related deficit; provided, that the member unit certifies in writing to the division of local services of the department of revenue prior to June 30, 2027 that the member unit has withdrawn from the Trust. The commissioner of revenue shall issue guidelines or instructions as to the amount that constitutes unanticipated fiscal year 2026 or 2027 health insurance-related deficit under this section and shall issue guidelines or instructions for reporting the amortization of deficits authorized by this section. The local appropriating authority, as defined in section21C of chapter 59 of the General Laws, shall adopt a deficit amortization schedule in accordance with the department of revenue’s guidelines or instructions before setting the municipality’s fiscal year 2027 tax rate.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #59 to H4601

Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust