Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-240
GOV 240
Funding for the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
Messrs. Moore, Keenan, Oliveira and Gómez, Ms. Howard and Mr. Lewis moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item 0840-0101 the following item:-
xxxx-xxxx For funding to be administered by the Massachusetts office for victim assistance to organizations supporting victims of crime; provided such organizations support underserved communities or provide culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse services……………………$13,825,550.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-241
GOV 241
Public Retirees Earning Adjustment
Mr. Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following sections:-
“SECTION __. Section 91 of chapter 32 of the general laws, as appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$15,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $25,000.
SECTION __. Section 91A of said chapter is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$15,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $25,000.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-242
GOV 242
State Ethics Commission
Messrs. Moore and Keenan, Ms. Kennedy and Messrs. Fernandes and Lewis moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0900-0100, by striking out the figure “$3,917,515” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $4,007,431.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-243
GOV 243
Early Voting Reimbursement
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-
"SECTION _. Section 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
r) The commonwealth shall reimburse each city and town an amount sufficient to defray the mandated costs imposed on the city or town under this section; provided, however, that annually not later than September 15, the state auditor shall determine and deliver to the state secretary a statement of the incremental costs attributed to this section and costs incurred by each city and town in the previous fiscal year; and provided further, that this amount shall be limited to statutorily obligated expenses and shall not include incidental and subordinate local administration expenses as determined by the state auditor."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-244
GOV 244
Transparency for the Cost of Consultants
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-
"SECTION_. The comptroller shall develop, deploy, administer and maintain a public, searchable database containing information relative to contracts for consulting to which any agency of the commonwealth is a party, for which the total annual cost exceeds $50,000, provided that such database shall include but not be limited to : the agency procuring the contract and any agencies participating in its execution, the contract provider or vendor, the terms or language of the contract , the dates of award, beginning, and end of the contract, and, to the extent a contract is for the provision of personal services, the compensation for any person providing such services, which shall be detailed in like manner as the compensation information for state employees contained in the comptroller's 'open checkbook' system, so called, provided that such database shall be accessible to the public on a convenient electronic platform not later than May 1, 2027, and shall be updated to the maximum feasible extent, which shall be in increments of not less than 60 days."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-245
GOV 245
Population Change Study
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section_ the following section:-
"SECTION_. The University of Massachusetts shall conduct a study of changes in the population in the commonwealth in the last 10 years, projected changes in the next 10 years, the causes therefore and the impacts thereof, so as to inform the decisions of state government. In conducting said study, the university shall create and advisory panel for the purposes of consultation and guidance, which shall include the Chancellor or a designee, representatives selected by the governor from the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, the Executive Office of Education, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the department of revenue, members of the university faculty with expertise in demographics, economics, health care, education and planning, two representatives of organized labor in the commonwealth, two representatives of employers in the commonwealth, and 3 members representing communities of different sizes in the commonwealth.
Said study shall examine population history and trends, factors impacting population changes such as levels of taxation, the costs of housing, energy, transportation and education, climate change and adaptation, and any other relevant factors identified by the advisory panel. The study shall also examine the impacts of foreseeable population changes on the state's economy, housing, environmental protection, energy consumption, environmental protection, municipal and state tax revenue, state and local government spending, and municipalities and school districts. In conducting such study the university shall conduct no less than 3 public hearings in geographically diverse regions of the commonwealth, and shall consult with persons and organizations with relevant expertise.
The university shall submit the report detailing the findings of said study with the clerks of the House and Senate, not later than June 30, 2027."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-246
GOV 246
Divesting from Foreign Companies on U.S. Exchanges in violation of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-
"SECTION _. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
'Board', the pension reserves investment management board established in section 23 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
'Company', any sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company or other entity or business association, including all wholly-owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, parent companies or affiliates of such entities or business associations that exist for profit-making purposes.
'Direct holdings', all securities of a company held directly by the public fund or in an account or fund in which the public fund owns all shares or interests.
'Indirect holdings', all securities of a company held in an account or fund including, but not limited to, a mutual fund, managed by persons not employed by the public fund, in which the public fund owns shares or interests together with other investors not subject to this section.
'Public fund', the Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund or the pension reserves investment management board responsible for managing the pooled investment fund consisting of the assets of the state employees’ retirement system and the teachers’ retirement system and the assets of local retirement systems under the control of the board.
'Scrutinized company', a company that has: (i) is incorporated in another country; and (iii) not in compliance with the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 90 days after the effective date of this section, the public fund shall make its best efforts to facilitate the identification of all scrutinized companies in which the public fund has direct or indirect holdings. The identification of scrutinized companies shall be performed by an independent, third-party research firm selected by the public fund and based on the criteria set forth in this section. By the first meeting of the public fund following the 90-day period, the public fund shall assemble all scrutinized companies in which it has direct or indirect holdings into a scrutinized companies list. The public fund shall update the scrutinized companies list on a quarterly basis based on evolving information from the independent, third-party research firm.
(c)(1) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the public fund shall adhere to the procedure in paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, for companies on the scrutinized companies list.
(2) The public fund shall determine the companies on the scrutinized companies list prepared pursuant to subsection (b) in which the public fund owns direct or indirect holdings.
(3) The public fund shall sell, redeem, divest or withdraw all publicly-traded securities of a company identified in paragraph (2), except as provided in paragraph (6) and in subsection (e), according to the following schedule: (i) at least 50 per cent of such assets shall be removed from the public fund’s assets under management within 6 months after the company’s most recent appearance on the scrutinized companies list, subject to market availability; and (ii) 100 per cent of such assets shall be removed from the public fund’s assets under management within 12 months after the company’s most recent appearance on the scrutinized companies list, subject to market availability; provided, however, that this paragraph shall only apply until such company is removed from the scrutinized companies list.
(4) During the time period outlined in paragraph (3), the public fund may sign onto engagement letters or participate in shareholder resolutions regarding the scrutinized business operations of companies identified in paragraph (2) in which the public fund still owns direct or indirect holdings.
(5) At no time shall the public fund acquire securities of companies on the scrutinized companies list, except as provided in paragraphs (6) and (7).
(6) No company that the United States government affirmatively declares to be excluded from its present or future sanctions regime relating to the government of the incorporated company shall be subject to divestment or an investment prohibition under paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive.
(7) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, shall not apply to indirect holdings in actively-managed investment funds; provided, however, that the public fund shall submit letters to the managers of such investment funds containing scrutinized companies requesting that they consider removing such companies from the investment fund or create a similar actively-managed fund with indirect holdings devoid of such companies. If the manager creates a similar fund, the public fund shall replace all applicable investments with investments in the similar fund in an expedited timeframe consistent with prudent investment standards. For the purposes of this section, private equity funds shall be deemed to be actively-managed investment funds.
(d) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, with respect to actions taken in compliance with this section, the public fund shall be exempt from any conflicting statutory or common law obligations, including any such obligation with respect to the choice of asset managers, investment funds or investments for the public fund’s securities portfolios and all good faith determinations regarding companies as required by this section.
(e) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the public fund may cease divesting from certain scrutinized companies under paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (c), reinvest in certain scrutinized companies from which it divested under said paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of said subsection (c) or continue to invest in certain scrutinized companies from which it has not yet divested upon clear and convincing evidence showing that the total and aggregate value of all assets under management by, or on behalf of, the public fund becomes: (i) equal to or less than 99.5 per cent; or (ii) 100 per cent less 50 basis points of the hypothetical value of all assets under management by, or on behalf of, the public fund assuming no divestment for any company had occurred under said paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of said subsection (c). Cessation of divestment, reinvestment or any subsequent ongoing investment authorized by this subsection shall be strictly limited to the minimum steps necessary to avoid the contingency set forth in the preceding sentence.
For any cessation of divestment, and in advance of any such cessation, authorized by this subsection, the public fund shall provide a written report to the attorney general, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public service, which shall be updated semi-annually thereafter, as applicable, setting forth the reasons and justification, supported by clear and convincing evidence, for its decisions to cease divestment of holdings in companies on the scrutinized companies list or to reinvest or remain invested in companies on the scrutinized companies list.
(f) The public fund shall file a copy of the scrutinized companies list with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives and the attorney general within 30 days after the list is prepared. Annually thereafter, the public fund shall file a report with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the attorney general that shall include: (i) the most recent scrutinized companies list; (ii) all investments sold, redeemed, divested or withdrawn in compliance with paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (c); (iii) all prohibited investments from which the public fund has not yet divested under paragraph (5) of said subsection (c); and (iv) any progress made under paragraph (7) of said subsection (c)."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-247
GOV 247
Promoting Public Payroll Transparency
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following sections:-
“SECTION ___. Section 14C of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Funding source” the following definition:- 'Quasi-public independent entity', a corporation that: (i) is supported by the government to provide services to citizens, including, but not limited to, operating public buses and rail systems, developing drinking water and managing public pension information; and (ii) has certain budgetary, governing and policy-making independence from the executive and legislative branches.
SECTION ____. Said section 14C of said chapter 7, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following subsection:- (i) A quasi-public independent entity shall submit compensation information to the comptroller who shall post such information on the searchable website. The state auditor shall publicly post audits conducted of quasi-public independent entities on its website.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-248
GOV 248
Candidate safety
Ms. Rausch and Mr. Oliveira moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following sections:-
"SECTION X. Clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended in subclause (o) by striking out, in lines 232-233, the words “the home address, personal email address and home telephone number of” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the residential or home-based office address, personal email address and home, home-based office or personal mobile telephone number of a candidate for public office, an elected official,”.
SECTION X. Said clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of said chapter 4, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in subclause (p) by striking out, in lines 243-244, the words “home address, personal email address and home telephone number of” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the residential or home-based office address, personal email address and home, home-based office or personal mobile telephone number of a candidate for public office, an elected official or”.
SECTION X. Section 5 of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the word “residences” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipalities of residence”.
SECTION X. Section 6 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the word “addresses” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipalities of residence”.
SECTION X. Section 8 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “his residence, with street and number, if any” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “their municipality of residence; provided, however, that the secretary shall through alternate means collect each candidate’s residential address, with street and number, if any, which shall be maintained by the secretary in accordance with clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4”.
SECTION X. Section 34 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 30-31, the words “the street and number, if any, of his residence” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “their municipality of residence; provided, however, that the secretary shall through alternate means collect each candidate’s residential address, with street and number, if any, which shall be maintained by the secretary in accordance with clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4”.
SECTION X. Section 45 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 and 3, the words “his residence, with street and number thereof, if any” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “their municipality of residence”.
SECTION X. Section 106 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 12, the words “street and number, if any, of his residence” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipality, precinct or ward, or both, as applicable, of the residence of a candidate”.
SECTION X. Section 41 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 official edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 7, the words “he resides, with the name of the street and the number, if any, of his residence” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the candidate resides”.
SECTION X. Said section 41 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 8-11, the third sentence and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “To the name of each candidate for a county office shall be added the name of the city or town where the candidate resides. To the name of each candidate for city or town office shall be added the ward or precinct where the candidate resides, or both ward and precinct, as applicable.”.
SECTION X. Said section 41 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 28-29, the words “the name of the street on which they reside, with their street number, if any, and”.
SECTION X. Section 41A of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the words “christian names and addresses” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “first names”.
SECTION X. Section 42 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 34, the word “address” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipality of residence”.
SECTION X. Said section 42 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 41 and 44, the word “addresses” each time it appears and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- “municipalities of residence”.
SECTION X. Section 49 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the word “residences” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipalities of residence”.
SECTION X. Section 50 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “residences” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “wards or precincts of residence, or both, as applicable”.
SECTION X. Section 51 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the word “residences” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “wards or precincts of residence, or both, as applicable”.
SECTION X. Section 77 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding, in line 7, after the word “and” the following words:- “municipality of”.
SECTION X. Section 78 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding, in line 19, after the word “and” the following words:- “municipality and state of”.
SECTION X. Section 78A of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the word “addresses” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipalities of residence”.
SECTION X. Said section 78A of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the word “addresses” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “municipalities and states of residence”."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-249
GOV 249
Extension of Polling Hours
Messrs. Brownsberger and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section XX the following section:-
SECTION YY. Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:
62A. Extension of Polling Hours
Section 62A. The state secretary shall have the authority to extend polling hours in emergency situations, including, but not limited to, documented disruptions affecting access to a polling place on election day or delays in transmitting the delivery of vote by mail ballots. If the state secretary determines a disruption at a polling place or delay in transmitting ballots to local election officials exist, the secretary may order a polling place extend their hours to accommodate voters who may be otherwise disfranchised. Any extension of the hours of voting shall be determined based on the severity of the disruption necessitating the extension, but not to exceed 4 hours. Any actions taken by the state secretary under this section shall be reviewable in accordance with the provisions of section 59 of chapter 56 of the general laws.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-249-R1
Redraft GOV 249
Extension of Polling Hours
Messrs. Brownsberger and Keenan and Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section XX the following section:-
"SECTION YY. Chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:-
"62A. Extension of Polling Hours
Section 62A. The state secretary shall have the authority to extend polling hours in emergency situations, including, but not limited to, documented disruptions affecting access to a polling place on election day or delays in transmitting the delivery of vote by mail ballots. If the state secretary determines a disruption at a polling place or delay in transmitting ballots to local election officials exist, the secretary may order a polling place extend its hours to accommodate voters who may be otherwise disenfranchised. Any extension of the hours of voting shall be determined based on the severity of the disruption necessitating the extension, but not to exceed 4 hours. Any actions taken by the state secretary under this section shall be reviewable in accordance with the provisions of section 59 of chapter 56 of the general laws.""
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-250
GOV 250
Microfilm
Mr. Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-
"SECTION __. Section 15 of Chapter 36 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the words 'micrographic process'; and by inserting after the word 'entered' the words:- 'in a format approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth'."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-251
GOV 251
Automated employment and income information
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-
“SECTION _. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, in order to improve the timeliness of benefit deliveries, operational efficiencies, and cost savings and to minimize fraud, the Department of Unemployment Assistance and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development shall obtain automated employment and income information (up-to-date, non-modeled employment and income data provided by employers) from a third-party commercial consumer reporting agency, in accordance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. s.1681 et seq., for the purpose of assisting with the determination of an individual's eligibility to receive unemployment benefits."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-252
GOV 252
Preventing UGGA Attrition
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-
"SECTION _____. The secretary of administration on finance shall annually develop a report detailing the relative value of Unrestricted General Government aid, so-called, provided further that such report shall detail factors including but not limited to, the reduction in value caused by the rate of inflation in the preceding year, the percentage of total state spending represented by the appropriation for Unrestricted General Government Aid in the current fiscal year as compared to the percentage in the prior fiscal year, and any other factors relevant to such relative value, provided further , that the secretary shall determine the amount of appropriation necessary in the next fiscal year to maintain the relative strength of Unrestricted General Government Aid at its current strength in the next fiscal year , taking into account the impacts of inflation and its percentage of total state spending, which amount shall be included in said report, which shall be filed with the clerks of the House and Senate and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means not later than March 1."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-253
GOV 253
Controlling the Costs of Student Transportation
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-
"SECTION __. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the operational services division shall, on an annual basis, determine rates for contracted school transportation provided to public K-12 school districts in the commonwealth, taking into account all relevant factors, including but not limited to the costs of fuel, labor, adjusted by region, vehicle and equipment acquisition, repair, and maintenance, licensing and permitting, and garaging or storage. In determining said rates, the division shall conduct not less than 3 public hearings in geographically diverse regions of the commonwealth, with at least one such hearing allowing for remote participation, and shall publish a report containing such rates and the method by which they were established, which shall be filed annually with the clerks of the House and Senate not later than July 1."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-254
GOV 254
Massachusetts Innovation Fund and State Agency Technology Upgrades Account
Mr. Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item xxxx-xxxx the following item:-
"xxxx-xxxx For the Massachusetts Innovation Fund and State Agency Technology Upgrades Account established under section 48 of chapter 23G of the general laws...............................................................$25,000,000."; and
by inserting after section __ the following section:-
"SECTION __. Chapter 23G of the general laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-
Section 48. Massachusetts Innovation Fund and State Agency Technology Upgrades Account
(a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:-
"Account", the state agency technology upgrades account.
"Board", the Massachusetts innovation fund board.
"Cloud computing service", has the meaning given the term by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in NIST Special Publication 800-145 and any amendatory or superseding document thereto.
"Device-as-a-service", a managed service in which hardware that belongs to a managed service provider is installed at a state agency and a service level agreement defines the responsibilities of each party to the agreement.
"Fund", means the Massachusetts Innovation Fund.
"Information technology system", any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment used by a state agency, or a person under a contract with a state agency if the contract requires use of the equipment, to acquire, store, analyze, evaluate, manipulate, manage, move, control, display, switch, interchange, transmit, print, copy, scan, or receive data or other information. “Information technology system” shall include, but not be limited to, operational technology, including industrial control systems, a computer, a device-as-a-service solution, ancillary computer equipment such as imaging, printing, scanning, and copying peripherals and input, output, and storage devices necessary for security and surveillance, peripheral equipment designed to be controlled by the central processing unit of a computer, software and firmware and similar procedures, and services, including support services, and related resources. “Information technology system” shall not include equipment acquired by a contractor incidental to a state contract.
"Legacy information technology system", is an information technology system that is operated with outdated or obsolete, or inefficient hardware or software system of information technology.
"Qualifying information technology modernization project", a project by a state agency to (i) replace the agency's information technology systems; (ii) transition the agency's legacy information technology systems to a cloud computing service or other innovative commercial platform or technology; (iii) develop and implement a method to provide adequate, risk-based, and cost-effective information technology responses to threats to the agency's information security; (iv) reducing data, hardware, and software redundancy; (v) improving system and data interoperability; or (vi) implementing cybersecurity solutions consistent with principles of Zero Trust architecture as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(b) The Massachusetts innovation fund board is established to administer the Massachusetts innovation fund and the state agency technology upgrades account and to make awards of financial assistance to state agencies from the fund or account for qualifying information technology modernization projects. The board shall consist of: (i) the executive director of Massachusetts Development Finance Agency or a designee; (ii) the secretary of the executive office of technology services and security or a designee; (iii) the governor or a designee; (iv) two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; (v) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (vi) one member of the public with relevant subject matter expertise appointed by the governor; and (vii) three state employees primarily having technical expertise in information technology development, financial management, cybersecurity and privacy, and acquisition, appointed by the secretary of the executive office of technology services and security.
(c) Members of the board shall serve up to six two-year terms. A board member is not entitled to compensation for service on the board but is entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred while performing duties as a board member.
(d) The Massachusetts innovation fund and the state agency technology upgrades account are each established and set up on the books of the commonwealth as a separate fund, and may be expended from without further legislative appropriation, as provided by this section. MassDevelopment shall hold the Massachusetts innovation fund and the state agency technology upgrades account in separate accounts and apart from all other accounts.
(e) The fund consists of:
(1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature;
(2) gifts, donations, grants, including federal grants, and any other third-party funds;
(3) money received by the board for the repayment of a loan made from the fund; and
(4) interest and other earnings earned on deposits and investments of money in the fund.
(f) The account consists of:
(1) money deposited to the account by the comptroller in the manner prescribed by subsection (h); and
(2) interest and other earnings earned on deposits and investments of money in the account.
(g) The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, in consultation with the executive office of technology services and security, shall establish a loan program to authorize the board to use money from the fund to provide loans to state agencies for qualifying information technology modernization projects. A state agency may apply to the board for a loan from the fund. The application shall include a description of the qualifying information technology modernization project for which the state agency is requesting a loan. The board may grant a loan based upon a finding that the project is a qualifying information technology modernization project. A loan agreement entered into under this subsection shall require the state agency to:
(1) repay the loan to the board within seven years of the date the loan is made to the agency; and
(2) make annual reports to the board identifying cost savings realized by the agency as a result of the project for which the agency received the loan.
(h) At the end of each state fiscal year, on the written request of a state agency, MassDevelopment shall, in conjunction with the comptroller, deposit to the account the unexpended balance of any money appropriated to the agency for that state fiscal year that is budgeted by the agency for information technology services or cybersecurity purposes. A state agency may request money from the account from the board at any time for a qualifying information technology modernization project.
(i) The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency shall separately account for the amount of money deposited to the account at the request of each state agency under subsection (h). Money deposited to the account under subsection (h) and any interest and other earnings on that money may be provided only to the state agency for which the comptroller deposited the money to the account and may be used by the agency only for a qualifying information technology modernization project.
(j) Any money deposited to the account at the request of a state agency under subsection (h) that is not requested by the agency within three years from the date the money is deposited shall be transferred by the MassDevelopment, in conjunction with the comptroller, to the general revenue fund to be used in accordance with legislative appropriation.
(k) A state agency that receives money from the fund or the account may collaborate with one or more other state agencies that also receive money from the fund or the account to purchase information technology systems that may be shared between the agencies.
(l) Funds provided to an agency under this section, for any fiscal year, shall be used to supplement any appropriations made to the agency and shall not supplant any appropriations made to the agency.
(m) MassDevelopment, in consultation with comptroller, may adopt rules and regulations to implement and administer this section."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-255
GOV 255
District Local Technical Assistance
Messrs. Eldridge, Mark and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1599-0026, by striking out the figure "$3,000,000" and inserting in place thereof the figure "$4,000,000"; and by striking out the figure "$10,000,000" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$11,000,000".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-256
GOV 256
Science and technology fellowship program
Messrs. Brownsberger, Mark and Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 9500-0000, by adding the following words:- “; and provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for the support of a science and technology fellowship program, which shall strengthen decision-making in legislative offices through rigorous research and technical analysis.”; and by striking out the figure “$33,034,830” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$33,284,830”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-257
GOV 257
An Act relative to the PRIM Board
Mr. Cronin moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-
"SECTION ___. Section 23 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 201, after the words “representative of a public safety union” the following words:- from a list of 3 candidates nominated by the executive board of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems, Inc. who shall be a member of a retirement system that has been vested in the PRIT Fund."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-258
GOV 258
Ensuring the Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Programs
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0910-0200, by inserting the following words:- "; provided, that the inspector general shall expend not less than $300,000 to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the Mass Save program, provided that such analysis shall take into account factors including but not limited to, the costs of projects funded by the program, and any benefits resulting from those projects, including but not limited to energy conservation and savings, and reduced carbon emissions and other environmental benefits, provided, that such analysis shall include a consideration of whether the methodologies of the present program are the most cost-effective approach to achieving its goals, provided further that a report containing the findings of the analysis, together with any legislative, programmatic, and regulatory recommendations shall be filed with the clerks of the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on telecommunications and Energy, the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and the house and Senate Committees on Ways and Means"; and by striking the figure "$6,476,307" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$6,776,307".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-259
GOV 259
GIC Oversight
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0910-0200, by inserting the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended for the office of the inspector general, in consultation with the center for health information and analysis, shall conduct an investigation and submit a report to the house and senate clerks, the joint committee on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) a detailed accounting of expenditures made by the group insurance commission in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, including expenditures supported by supplemental appropriations; (ii) an analysis of the commission’s compliance with chapter 32A of the General Laws and applicable procurement and fiscal management requirements; (iii) a review of spending on activities not specifically required by statute, regulation, or contractual obligation and how such spending has changed over time; (iv) an analysis of cost drivers including pharmacy benefit spending, high cost claimants, administrative expenses, and reserve utilization; (v) an assessment of premium and plan cost trends over the preceding 3 fiscal years, including comparisons to statewide health care cost growth benchmarks published by the center for health information and analysis; and (vi) recommendations to ensure fiscal stability, reserve adequacy, and compliance with said chapter 32A; provided further, that the group insurance commission shall comply with all requests from the office of the inspector general or the center for health information and analysis for any information deemed necessary to conducting said investigation and submitting said report, including, but not limited to, requests for the production of records; and provided further, that a preliminary report shall be filed not later than September 30, 2027 and a final report shall be filed not later than March 1 2028"; and by striking the figure "$6,476,307" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$6,776,307".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-260
GOV 260
Public Records Portal Information
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following new section:--- "SECTION ____. Consistent with the provisions of Chapter 66 of the general laws, any information obtained through the operation of a public-facing portal for the purposes of soliciting information from the public by any state agency shall be considered public information, subject to the conditions contained in said chapter, and shall be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 552."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-261
GOV 261
Matched Savings
Mr. Eldridge moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0610-0010, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to the MIDAS Collaborative, Inc. as a fiscal intermediary for matched-savings programs, and the development of the Midas Economic Mobility Incubator which help close critical racial and other wealth gaps of low-to-moderate-income households, in partnership with financial institutions, community development corporations, community foundations and other community-based organizations"; and by striking out the figure "$1,476,699" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$1,726,699".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-262
GOV 262
Transparency in Private Utility Construction Contracts
Mr. Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-
SECTION __. Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 76D the following section:-
Section 76E. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:-
“Company”, a gas or distribution company.
“Contract”, any agreement for the procurement of services specified under subsection (b), regardless of what the parties call the agreement.
“Responsible bidder”, a person who has the capability to perform fully the contract requirements, and the integrity and reliability which assures good faith performance.
“Score”, the quantitative or qualitative rating or method utilized by the company to award a contract
(b) When entering into a contract in the amount of $100,000 or more for services related to the excavation or construction upon, along, under, or across any public way, each company shall be subject to this section.
(c) A company shall (1) within two business days after the decision has been made, inform any responsible bidder which submitted a bid of its decision in relation to the award of a contract, and shall do so by notice in writing by the most rapid means of communication possible; and (2) post the winning bid on its website with (i) the name of the contractor, (ii) winning amount, (iii) location of project.
(d) The written notice to each responsible bidder shall include (1) the criteria for the award of the contract; and (2) the score obtained by the responsible bidder.
(e) Where there is only one response to a solicitation, a company need not comply with this section.
(f) A company may withhold any information to be provided in accordance with the section where the disclosure of such information (1) would impede law enforcement, (2) would otherwise be contrary to the public interest, (3) would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of any responsible bidder; or (4) might interfere with competition between responsible bidders.
(g) The department shall be responsible for enforcing this section, and may promulgate regulations and issue orders it deems in the public interest regarding the procurement practices of companies.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-263
GOV 263
Facade Improvements for Old Town Hall in Andover
Mr. Finegold moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1599-0026, by adding the following words:- “provided further that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for facade improvements in the town of Andover”; and by striking out the figure “$1,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$10,050,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-264
GOV 264
Amesbury Digital Community Sign
Mr. Finegold moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1599-0026, by adding the following words:- “; provided, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the acquisition of a digital community sign in the town of Amesbury"; and by striking out the figure “$10,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$10,025,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-265
GOV 265
CCC Secret Shopper
Mr. Gómez moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after line item 1070-0843 the following new item:-
"1070-0844 For the establishment of a secret shopper program, executing certain investigations and enforcement programs, and bringing the commission into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act ..........................$641,000".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-266
GOV 266
CCC Staffing
Mr. Gómez moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after line item 1070-0843 the following item:-
"1070-0845 For the hiring of administrative and enforcement staff to regulate the licensed industry and implement Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 ..........................$700,000".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-267
GOV 267
CCC Social Consumption
Mr. Gómez moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after line item 1070-0843 the following item:-
"1070-0846 For the initial implementation of social consumption licensing and regulatory oversight ..........................$1,000,000".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-268
GOV 268
Institutional Records Access
Mr. Barrett moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-
"SECTION _. Section 7 of chapter 66 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following two sentences:- Any such record from a state institution that is not in the custody of the state secretary shall be available for review and access by the archives division of the state secretary. If the archives division determines a record is relevant to the history of state institutions as studied and reported on by the special commission established in Section 144 of Chapter 126 of the Acts of 2022 and is in sufficient condition for permanent retention, said record shall be transferred to the custody of the state secretary."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-269
GOV 269
Institutional Records in the Custody of DPH
Mr. Barrett moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-
"SECTION _. Section 70 of chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- There shall be a rebuttable presumption that disclosure of patient records from Tewskbury State Hospital, Rutland Heights State Hospital, and Pondville State Hospital more than 50 years after the death of the patient is in the best interest of the patient; provided, that the: (i) records are facility records; and (ii) requestor is a close relative or engaged in academic research. The department shall make best efforts to redact any personal identifying information of living individuals in such patient records in order to avoid undue invasions of privacy. The department shall promulgate regulations in collaboration with the department of mental health to implement this rule."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-270
GOV 270
Voter Booklets
Mr. Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-
SECTION __. Section 2 of chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025 is hereby amended in item 0521-0000 by adding at the end thereof the following words:- “; provided further, that not more than $2,000,000 in unexpended funds shall be made available until October 31, 2026 to cover the costs for materials, labor and postage relating to the information for voter booklets required by Article XLVIII of the Massachusetts Constitution and section 53 of chapter 54 of the General Laws".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-271
GOV 271
Voting by Mail
Mr. Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-
SECTION __. Section 2 of chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025 is hereby amended in item 0521-0002 by adding at the end thereof the following words:- “; provided further, that not more than $4,000,000 in unexpended funds shall be made available until October 31, 2026 to cover the costs for materials, labor and postage relating to the vote by mail applications required by section 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-272
GOV 272
MassCap Anti Poverty Amendment
Messrs. Mark and Keenan, Ms. Howard and Messrs. Cronin and Gómez moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item 7002-0017, the following item:
:7002-0025 For operational support grants to community action agencies; provided, that criteria for the distribution of the grants, including minimum or maximum grant size, eligible uses and any relevant reporting and accountability measures shall be developed jointly with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, Inc. or MASSCAP; and provided further, that the grants shall be used to assist the agencies in their mission to assist residents of the commonwealth living with low incomes to stabilize their lives and achieve economic prosperity, and in creating and expanding opportunity for those residents in the neighborhoods and municipalities where they live and work ………............................. $5,000,000".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-273
GOV 273
Violent Act Injury
Mr. Montigny moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following sections:-
"SECTION X. Section 1 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 21 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Violent act injury” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-
“Violent act injury”, a catastrophic or life-threatening bodily injury that results in permanent bodily or psychological injury sustained as a direct and proximate result of a violent attack upon a person by means of a dangerous weapon, which is used in a manner intended to cause serious injury or death, including, but not limited to, a firearm, knife, automobile or explosive device.
SECTION XX. Chapter 149 of the act of 2024, as most recently amended by sections 21 through 23 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby effective as of July 1, 2023.".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-274
GOV 274
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
Mr. Mark moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7004-0107, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity in the City of Pittsfield for their Prosperity Way affordable housing development"; and by striking out the figure "$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$200,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-275
GOV 275
Heart and Soil Collective
Mr. Mark moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 2511-0107, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Heart and Soil Collective in the Town of Lanesborough for the purpose of providing free, fresh produce and soup to seniors and families in need"; and by striking out the figure "$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- "$125,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-276
GOV 276
LGBTQIA+ Museum
Mr. Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0640-0300, by adding the following words:- “provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be extended to Boston LGBTQIA+ Museum for an artist support program”; and by striking out the figure “$27,448,072” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$27,548,072”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-277
GOV 277
Fresh Paint
Mr. Gómez moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0640-0300, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Common Wealth Mural Collaborative, Inc. to support the Fresh Paint Springfield mural festival in the city of Springfield" and by striking the figure "$27,448,072" and inserting in place thereof the following figure "$27,473,072".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-278
GOV 278
Lottery Commission Clarification
Mr. Payano moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after Section __ the following section:-
“SECTION XX. Section 25 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “appropriation”, in line 13, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the commission may enter into contracts or group agreements for lottery games not currently or previously authorized by the commission, resulting in a contractor or licensor to be paid a specified percentage of net or gross revenues of such game, and such payments shall not be subject to appropriation.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-279
GOV 279
Triennial Pension Funding Schedule Correction
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by striking SECTION 17 in its entirety.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-280
GOV 280
Race Horse Development Fund Correction
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by striking SECTION 8 from the bill in its entirety.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-281
GOV 281
Excess Capital Gains Distribution
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by striking SECTION 53 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-
"SECTION 53. SECTION 53. (a) Notwithstanding section 5G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the excess capital gains threshold for fiscal year 2027 shall be $2,250,000,000.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027, the comptroller shall transfer capital gains collected in excess of the threshold under section 5G of chapter 29 of the General Laws on a quarterly basis as follows: (i) 5 per cent to the State
Retiree Benefits Trust Fund established in section 24 of chapter 32A of the General Laws; (ii) 85 per cent to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund established in section 2H of chapter 29 of the General Laws; (iii) 5 per cent to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund established in subsection (e) of subdivision (8) of section 22 of chapter 32 of the General Laws; and (iv) 5 per cent to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund established in section 2HHHHHH of said chapter 29"
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-282
GOV 282
Office of the Veteran Advocate
Mr. Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0960-1000, by striking out the figure “$1,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$2,040,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-283
GOV 283
Verification for Entitlement Programs
Mr. Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-
"SECTION X. Subsection B of section 2 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following clause:-
(t) verify that an applicant for benefits through any transitional assistance financial assistance program administered by the department is a United States citizen or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify an applicant’s eligibility pursuant to this clause.
SECTION X. Section 3 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(w) verify that an applicant for benefits through any housing program for low and moderate income families administered by the department is a United States citizen or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify an applicant’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph.
SECTION X. Section 2 of chapter 111I of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
The department of public health shall verify that an applicant for benefits through the WIC program is a United States citizen or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify a beneficiary’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph.
SECTION X. Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
(17) The division shall verify that a beneficiary is a United States citizen or lawfully present alien prior to providing any medical benefits through MassHealth. The division shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify a beneficiary’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-284
GOV 284
Workforce Investment Trust Fund and Economic Development Trust Fund Reforms Correction
Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by striking SECTION 9 in its entirety.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-285
GOV 285
Massachusetts Office on Disability
Ms. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1107-2400, by striking out the figure “$1,465,805” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,495,719”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-286
GOV 286
Office of the Child Advocate
Ms. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0930-0100, by inserting after the word “advocate” the following words:- “, including the operation of the center on child wellbeing and trauma;”; and by striking out the following words:- “that not less than $3,750,000 shall be expended for the operation of the state center on child wellbeing and trauma; provided further,”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-287
GOV 287
State Ethics Commission
Ms. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0900-0100, by striking out the figure “$3,917,515” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$4,007,431”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-288
GOV 288
Community Mitigation Support
Messrs. DiDomenico and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by striking the figure:- “35” in section 52, in line 869 and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “34”; and by striking out the figure “3” in line 878 and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “4”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-289
GOV 289
Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Program (Auto-IRA)
Mr. DiDomenico moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after section ___ the following section:
"SECTION ___. Chapter 29 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2NNNNNN the following section:-
Section 2OOOOOO. (a) There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a separate, non-budgeted special revenue fund known as the Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Fund which shall be administered by the state treasurer. The fund shall be credited with: (i) money from the payment of fees, penalties and other payments due to the Massachusetts secure choice savings program established in section 64H; (ii) appropriations or other money authorized or transferred by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund and any funds appropriated by the federal or local governments; (iii) private contributions and publicly or privately-funded grants; and (iv) any interest earned on the assets of the fund. Monies in the fund that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year. Section 38 shall not apply to any investment of the fund.
(b)The fund shall cover all expenses associated with the administration of the Massachusetts secure choice savings program not otherwise covered by the program, including, but not limited to, expenses related to program compliance and oversight responsibilities.
(c)The Massachusetts secure choice savings board, as established in section 64G, shall establish guidelines regarding administration of the fund.
SECTION ___. Said chapter 29 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 64E the following 5 sections:-
Section 64F. For the purposes of this section and sections 64G through 64J, inclusive, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
“Board”, the Massachusetts secure choice savings board established pursuant to section 64G.
“Client” or “client company”, as defined in section 192 of chapter 149.
“Code”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 62.
“Commissioner”, the commissioner of revenue.
“Client” or “client company”, as defined in section 192 of chapter 149.
“Department”, the department of revenue.
“Employee”, any individual who: (i) is 18 years of age or older; (ii) is employed by an employer; and (iii) has wages that are allocable to the commonwealth during a calendar year under chapter 62. For purposes of this section, an employee who is a covered employee under a professional employer agreement shall be treated as employed by the client company and not by the PEO.
“Employer”, a person or entity engaged in a business, industry, profession, trade or other enterprise in the commonwealth, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, that has: (i) at no time during the previous calendar year employed fewer than 25 employees in the commonwealth; (ii) been in business not less than 2 years; and (iii) not offered a qualified retirement plan, including, but not limited to, a plan qualified under sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b), 408(k), 408(p) or 457(b) of the Code, or a qualified retirement plan sponsored by a PEO with which the client company has a professional employer agreement as such terms are defined in section 192 of chapter 149, in the preceding 2 calendar years.
“Enrollee”, any employee or former employee who is enrolled in the program.
“Fund”, the Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Fund, established pursuant to section
2OOOOOO.
“IRA”, an individual retirement account that is either a: (i) Roth IRA, under section 408A of the Code; or (ii) individual retirement account under section 408 of the Code.
“Participating employer”, an employer that provides a payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement as provided for by section 64I for its employees who are enrolled in the program.
“Payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement”, an arrangement by which a participating employer allows enrollees to remit payroll deduction contributions to the program.
“Professional employer organization” or “PEO”, as defined in section 192 of chapter 149.
“Program”, the Massachusetts secure choice savings program, established pursuant to section 64H.
“Wages”, any compensation within the meaning of section 219(f)(1) of the Code that is received by an enrollee from a participating employer during the calendar year. For purposes of a professional employer agreement as such term is defined in section 192 of chapter 149, any wages paid to a covered employee by the PEO shall be treated as wages received from the client company.
Section 64G. (a)(1) There is hereby established the Massachusetts secure choice savings board. The board shall consist of the following 5 members: the state treasurer or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the comptroller or a designee; the secretary of the commonwealth or a designee; a public representative with expertise in retirement savings plan administration or investment, or both, who is representative of participating employees, appointed by the governor; and a public representative with expertise in retirement savings plan administration or investment, or both, who is representative of participating employers, appointed by the state treasurer.
(2) Each member shall be appointed for a term of 4 years; provided, however, that the public representative of employers shall be appointed initially for a term of 3 years; and provided further, that all members shall be eligible for reappointment. A vacancy in the term of an appointed board member shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
(3) The board may appoint or engage agents. The board, the individual members of the board, any other agents appointed or engaged by the board and all persons serving as program staff shall discharge their duties with respect to the program solely in the interest of the program’s enrollees and beneficiaries.
(b) The board shall be responsible for ongoing fiduciary administrative oversight of the program for the purpose of promoting greater retirement savings for private-sector employees in a convenient, low-cost and portable manner, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 64H.
(c) The board shall report annually to the state treasurer, governor, comptroller, secretary of the commonwealth and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) an audited financial report, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) a summary of the benefits provided by the program, including the number of enrollees; and (iii) the percentage and amounts of investment options and rates of return.
(d) All agencies of the commonwealth shall cooperate as requested by the board in the performance of their duties under this section, including, unless otherwise prohibited, the sharing of relevant data as the parties shall mutually agree.
Section 64H. (a) There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer the Massachusetts secure choice savings program, subject to appropriation. The program shall be developed and administered by the state treasurer with ongoing fiduciary administrative oversight provided by the board for the purpose of promoting greater retirement savings for private-sector employees in a convenient, low-cost and portable manner.
(b)(1) The state treasurer shall design, establish and operate the program in a manner that: (i) accords with best practices for retirement savings vehicles; (ii) maximizes participation, savings and sound investment practices; (iii) maximizes simplicity, including ease of administration for participating employers and enrollees; (iv) provides an efficient product to enrollees by pooling investment funds; and (v) ensures the portability of benefits.
(2) The state treasurer and the department shall maintain, on their websites, information for employers on the requirements of the program and information on retirement plans an employer may offer as an alternative to the program, including, but not limited to, a defined benefit plan, 401(k) plan, a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan or a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) plan.
(a) The state treasurer shall prepare a written statement of investment policy that includes a risk management and oversight program for consideration and adoption by the board.
(b) The state treasurer may contract with practitioners, administrators, investment managers and other entities to design, administer and provide investment options under the program. Any practitioner, administrator, investment manager or other entity with which the state treasurer contracts shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and all rules, policies and guidelines promulgated by the board with respect to the program and the investment of the fund, including, but not limited to, the investment policy. Any practitioner, administrator, investment manager or other entity with which the state treasurer contracts shall provide such reports as the board deems necessary to assess performance.
(c)The state treasurer shall assess the feasibility of multistate or regional agreements to administer the program through shared administrative and operational resources and may enter into those agreements if deemed beneficial to the program.
(f)(1) The commonwealth, the board, each member of the board or other commonwealth official, other commonwealth boards, commissions or agencies, or any member, officer or employee thereof, and the program: (i) shall have no responsibility for compliance by individuals with the conditions and other provisions of the Code that determine which individuals are eligible to make tax-favored contributions to IRAs, in what amount and in what time frame and manner; (ii) shall have no duty, responsibility or liability to any party for the payment of any benefits under the program, regardless of whether sufficient funds are available under the program to pay such benefits; (iii) do not and shall not guarantee any interest rate or other rate of return on or investment performance of any contribution or account balance; and (iv) are not and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, deficiency, failure to realize any gain or any other adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, any adverse tax consequences or loss of favorable tax treatment, public assistance or other benefits incurred by any person as a result of participating in the program.
(2) The debts, contracts and obligations of the program shall not be considered the debts, contracts and obligations of the commonwealth, and neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the commonwealth shall be pledged directly or indirectly to the payment of the debts, contracts and obligations of the program.
(3) Participating employers shall not have any liability for an employee’s decision to participate in, or opt out of, the program or for the investment decisions of the board or of any enrollee.
(4) A participating employer shall not be a fiduciary, or considered to be a fiduciary, over the program. A participating employer shall not bear responsibility for the administration, investment options or investment performance of the program. A participating employer shall not be liable with regard to investment returns, program design and benefits paid to program participants.
(g) All agencies of the commonwealth shall cooperate as requested by the state treasurer in the performance of their duties under this section, including, unless otherwise prohibited, the sharing of relevant data as the parties shall mutually agree.
Section 64I. (a) The Program shall be implemented, and enrollment of employees shall begin, within 24 months after the effective date of this Act. The provisions of this Section shall be in force after the Board opens the Program for enrollment.
(1) Each employer shall establish a payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement to allow each employee to participate in the program on a timeline set by the board.
(2) Employers shall automatically enroll each employee, who has not opted out of participation, in the program and shall provide payroll deduction retirement savings arrangements and deposit, on behalf of each such employee, these funds into the program.
(3) Employers shall retain the option at all times to set up any type of employer-sponsored retirement plan, including, but not limited to, a defined benefit plan, a 401(k), a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan, a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) plan, or a plan sponsored by a PEO with which the client company has a professional employer agreement as such terms are defined in section 192 of chapter 149, instead of having a payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement to allow employee participation in the program.
(b)(1) Enrollees shall have the ability to: (i) select a contribution level into the program; or (ii) opt out of participation in the program. The contribution level may be expressed as a percentage of wages or as a dollar amount up to the deductible amount for the enrollee’s taxable year under section 219(b)(1)(A) of the Code. Enrollees may change their contribution level at any time and that election shall be honored as soon as administratively feasible. If an enrollee fails to select a contribution level using the form prescribed, the enrollee shall contribute the default contribution rate of 6 per cent, with an annual escalation of 1 per cent and up to 10 per cent, of their wages to the program.
(2) Enrollees may select an investment option from the permitted investment options available under the program. Enrollees may change their investment option at any time. If an enrollee fails to select an investment option, the enrollee shall be placed in a qualified default investment alternative specified by the program.
(3) An enrollee may terminate their participation in the program at any time in a manner prescribed by the program.
(c)(1) In the case of a PEO relationship as such term is defined in section 192 of chapter 149:
(i)if a PEO offers a qualified retirement plan to a covered employee, the client company is considered as offering a qualified retirement plan and shall not be considered an employer required to automatically enroll each employee in the program as described in this section; and
(ii) if a client company is an employer required to automatically enroll each employee in the program, the client company, not the PEO, shall be responsible for complying with all applicable requirements under this section.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent an employer from entering into a professional employer agreement with a PEO under which the PEO agrees to assist the client company with the performance of some or all of the client company’s responsibilities under this section.
Section 64J. (a) An employer who fails without reasonable cause to enroll an employee, who has not elected out of participation, in the program within the time prescribed by the state treasurer, in consultation with the department, shall be subject to a penalty equal to:
(i) $250 for each employee for each calendar year or portion of a calendar year during which the employee neither was enrolled in the program nor had elected out of participation in the program, and any appropriate official of the commonwealth may bring a civil action to require the employer to enroll the employee and shall recover such costs and reasonable attorney’s fees as may be allowed by the court; and
(ii) for each calendar year beginning after the date a penalty has been assessed with respect to an employee, $500 for any portion of that calendar year during which such employee continues to be unenrolled without electing out of participation in the program, and any appropriate official of the commonwealth may bring a civil action to require the employer to enroll the employee and shall recover such costs and reasonable attorney’s fees as may be allowed by the court.
(b) No penalty shall be imposed under subsection (a) for any failure for which it is established that the employer, subject to liability for the penalty, did not know that the failure existed and exercised reasonable diligence to meet the requirements of this section or where:
(i) the employer subject to liability for the penalty exercised reasonable diligence to meet those requirements; and
(ii) the employer complies with those requirements with respect to each employee by the end of the 90-day period beginning on the first date the employer knew, or exercising reasonable diligence would have known, that the failure existed.
(c) In the case of a failure that is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, all or part of the penalty may be waived to the extent that the payment of the penalty would be excessive or otherwise inequitable relative to the failure involved.
(d) If a participating employer fails to transmit a payroll deduction contribution to the program on the earliest date the amount withheld from the enrollee’s compensation may reasonably be segregated from the participating employer’s assets, but not later than the 15th day of the month following the month in which the enrollee’s contribution amounts are withheld from their paycheck, the failure to remit such contributions on a timely basis shall be subject to the same sanctions as employer misappropriation of employee wage withholdings, including those pursuant to sections 148 and 150 of chapter 149 and to the penalties specified in subsection (a).
(e) Except as provided in this subsection, all information received by the department from returns filed by an employer or from any investigation conducted under this section shall be confidential, except for official purposes within the department or pursuant to official procedures for collection of penalties assessed under this section. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the commissioner from publishing or making available to the public reasonable statistics concerning the operation of this section wherein the contents of returns are grouped into aggregates in such a way that the specific information of any employer shall not be disclosed. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the commissioner from divulging information to an authorized representative of the employer or to any person pursuant to a request or authorization made by the employer or by an authorized representative of the employer.
(f) Civil penalties and fees collected under this section shall be deposited into the fund.
(g)The department may promulgate rules and regulations as necessary or proper for the administration and enforcement of this section."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-290
GOV 290
Report on Mail Voting Costs
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0521-0000, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not later than December 31, 2026, the secretary of the commonwealth shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on election laws, the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight and the clerks of the house and senate detailing the total costs incurred during calendar years 2022, 2024 and 2026 to issue mail voting postcards, send mail ballots to local election officials for distribution and use a second envelope for mail ballots".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-291
GOV 291
Outdated Statutory Clean-Up
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-
“SECTION X. Section 15FF of chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby repealed.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-292
GOV 292
Voting Materials and Polling Place Cleanup
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0524-0000, by adding the following words:- "; provided, that the state secretary’s name, photograph, likeness, or other personal information shall not be used in any polling place or on any voting materials or election information, including, but not limited to, materials about measures and questions submitted to voters consistent with sections 52, 53 and 54 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, except to be listed on ballots as a candidate for office".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-293
GOV 293
Report on Early Voting
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0521-0002, by adding the following words:- "; provided, that not later than December 31, 2026, the secretary of the commonwealth shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on election laws, the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight and the clerks of the house and senate detailing the early voting rates during calendar years 2022, 2024 and 2026".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-294
GOV 294
Scam Awareness Campaign
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7006-0000, by adding the following words:- "; provided, that office shall, in consultation with the executive office of aging and independence, conduct a public awareness campaign regarding online and text-based scams".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-295
GOV 295
Report on Central Voter Registration System
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0521-0001, by adding the following words:- "; and provided further, that not later than December 31, 2026, the secretary of the commonwealth shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on election laws, the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight and the clerks of the house and senate detailing any upgrades to the central voter registration computer system made during the last 10 years, including, but not limited to, the funding sources for said upgrades".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-296
GOV 296
UGGA Distribution Review Commission
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting following section:-
“SECTION X. (a) There shall be a special commission to study the distribution method used to allocate unrestricted general government aid to municipalities, including unrestricted general government aid, lottery aid as provided in section 18C of chapter 58 of the General Laws and additional assistance aid to municipalities. The study shall not include foundation aid as defined in section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws.
The commission shall examine the distribution method used to allocate unrestricted general government aid to municipalities, evaluate the effectiveness and equity of said method and make recommendations to establish a formula to fairly distribute unrestricted general government aid to municipalities. The commission shall review all aspects of general local aid including, but not limited to: (i) the current allocation of local aid to municipalities; (ii) the extent to which a municipality’s needs are reflected in the proportional distribution of the unrestricted general government aid; (iii) any equity discrepancies that exist between municipalities across the commonwealth related to local aid distribution; (iv) the ability to account for a municipality’s change in population or tax base in a general local aid funding distribution method, including, but not limited to, economic and job market shifts; and (v) the potential to calculate municipal costs based on a municipality’s need for municipal services.
(b) The commission shall consist of the following members: the secretary of administration and finance or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the chairs of the joint committee on ways and means or their designees; the ranking members of the joint committee on ways and means or their designees; the chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government or their designees; the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc. or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Inc. or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Inc. or a designee; and 3 members appointed by the governor who shall: (i) have experience in public sector finance; and (ii) reflect a diverse geographic distribution and stakeholder representation.
(c) The commission shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government not later than March 1, 2027.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-297
GOV 297
Creating and Codifying Arts Laureates in the Commonwealth
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-
“SECTION X. Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new sections:-
Section 38A. (a) The governor may appoint a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the choreographer laureate nominating committee established in subsection (b). The choreographer laureate shall promote choreography and dance, elevate the dance legacy of, and current dance communities in, the commonwealth and choreograph performances for important public events and ceremonies. The choreographer laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A choreographer laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) (1) There shall be a choreographer laureate nominating committee consisting of: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc.; the executive artistic director of The Dance Complex; the executive director of The Yard; and a member of the Boston Ballet company to be selected by the chair. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.
(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the choreographer laureate, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and seek nominations of potential candidates for selection as choreographer laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who shall be experienced in the art of choreography and produced a body of choreographic work. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.
(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 finalists based on the nominee’s overall choreographic excellence and demonstrated commitment to the arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse dance community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 3 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the choreographer laureate or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.
(c) (1) The choreographer laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of choreographer laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.
(2) The choreographer laureate shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties as choreographer laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Dancers and support staff selected by the choreographer laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.
(3) Annually, not later than February 1, the choreographer laureate shall submit a report summarizing their activities within the scope of their appointment to the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.
Section 38B. (a) The governor may appoint a musician laureate for the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the musician laureate nominating committee pursuant in subsection (b). The musician laureate shall promote the musical arts, elevate the musical legacy of, and current musical communities in, the commonwealth and write and perform music for important public events and ceremonies. The musician laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A musician laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) (1) There shall be a musician laureate nominating committee consisting of: the senate president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; and 3 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts cultural council. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.
(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the musician laureate, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as musician laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who shall be experienced in the art of music and produced a body of musical work. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.
(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 finalists based on the nominee’s overall musical excellence and demonstrated commitment to the musical arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse musical community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 3 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the musician laureate, or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.
(c) (1) The musician laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no monetary remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of musician laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.
(2) The musician laureate shall be entitled to reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties as musician laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Musicians and support staff selected by the musician laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.
(3) Annually, not later than February 1, the laureate shall submit a report summarizing their activities within the scope of their appointment to the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.
Section 38C. (a) The governor may appoint a poet laureate for the commonwealth who shall be selected from a list of finalists to be submitted by the poet laureate nominating committee pursuant in subsection (b). The poet laureate shall: (i) seek to encourage appreciation of poetry and creative expression across the commonwealth; (ii) attend public readings and other statewide literary and cultural events in diverse regions of the state; (iii) compose poetry for ceremonial occasions; and (iv) advise the department of elementary and secondary education on an outreach program for schools focused on the celebration and advancement of poetry. The poet laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A poet laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) (1) There shall be a poet laureate nominating committee consisting of: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts foundation for the humanities or a designee; the senate president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; and at least 5 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a poet or editor of poetry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a humanities organization within Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative from an indigenous community or Tribal Nation in Massachusetts, and 1 of whom shall be a scholar from one of the commonwealth’s public universities or colleges. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.
(2) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the tenure of the poet laureate, the Massachusetts cultural council shall, on behalf of the nominating committee, shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as poet laureate. Each nominee shall be a current resident of the commonwealth for not less than 3 years who possesses a substantial body of work and shall have demonstrated a commitment to promoting an awareness of poetry and literary excellence. Nominations shall include biographical information about the nominee.
(3) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 2 finalists based on the nominee’s overall excellence as a poet and demonstrated commitment to the arts. Finalists shall represent the commonwealth’s diverse poet community. The nominating committee shall submit the names of the 2 finalists to the governor not less than 4 weeks before the expiration of the tenure of the poet laureate, or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.
(c) (1) The poet laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no monetary remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of poet laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.
(2) The poet laureate shall be entitled to reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties as poet laureate, not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year. Support staff selected by the poet laureate for performances at important public events and ceremonies, consistent with this section, shall be entitled to compensation, as determined by the secretary of administration and finance.
(3) Annually, not later than February 1, the laureate shall submit a report summarizing their activities within the scope of their appointment to the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-298
GOV 298
Mass Save Corrective Action Plan Requirement
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:—
"SECTION __. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of energy resources, in coordination with the program administrators of the Mass Save energy efficiency program, shall develop and submit a comprehensive corrective action plan addressing the findings and recommendations issued by the office of the state auditor concerning the Mass Save program.
Said plan shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a detailed response to each finding and recommendation; (ii) a timeline for implementation of corrective actions; and (iii) any proposed administrative or legislative changes necessary to improve program transparency, cost-effectiveness, and oversight.
The department shall submit said plan to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy not later than 90 days after the effective date of this act."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-299
GOV 299
Rehoboth – Public Records Preservation
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0511-0200, by inserting the following:-
“; provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended to the town of Rehoboth for the preservation and binding of historical municipal records, including the use of outside archival services”;
and by striking out the figure “$914,130” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$944,130”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-300
GOV 300
Office of Leave Planning Management
Mr. Driscoll moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1750-0100, by inserting after the word "days" the following phrase:- “provided that the Office of Leave Planning Management shall employee not less than 35 employees, and further amend the bill in the same line item by striking the figure “$17,546,607” and inserting the figure “$17,904,701".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-301
GOV 301
Reallocation of Legal Services Funding
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 4003-0124, by striking out item 4003-0124 in its entirety.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-302
GOV 302
Ballot Law Commission Jurisdiction
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following sections:-
“SECTION X. Section 70E of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “No” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Except as provided in sections 4 and 5 of chapter 55B, no”.
SECTION X. Section 4 of chapter 55B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 4, after the word “ballot” the following words:- “, placement of names on a presidential primary ballot”.
SECTION X. Said section 4 of said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 8, after the word “any”, the following words:- “candidate or”.
SECTION X. Said section 4 of said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 11, the word “election,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “election; the placement of names on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53;”.
SECTION X. Said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended in section 5 by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- “Objections to all other presidential primary candidates whose names are placed on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53 shall be filed with the state secretary by five o’clock post meridian on the third business day following the announcement by the secretary of the order of names to be printed on the presidential primary ballot.”
SECTION X. Said section 5 of said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 29, before the word “state”, the following words:- “presidential or”.
SECTION X. Said section 5 of said chapter 55B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 32, before the word “nomination”, the following words:- “the placement of names on a presidential primary ballot consistent with the provisions of section 70E of chapter 53 or”.”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-303
GOV 303
Carver – Veterans Shuttle Bus
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1410-0012, by inserting the following:-
“; provided further, that not less than $85,000 shall be expended to the town of Carver for a wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus for veterans transportation”;
and by striking out the figure “$2,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$2,085,000”
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-304
GOV 304
Sports Wagering License Fee Adjustment
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:—
"SECTION __. Section 6(f) of chapter 23N of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$5,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,000,000”.
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-305
GOV 305
Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center
Mr. Velis moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1410-0012, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center of Massachusetts, Inc. in Springfield for the administration of veteran services"; and in said item by striking out the figures "$9,482,239" and inserting in place thereof the figures "$9,582,239".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-306
GOV 306
COVID-19 Essential Employee Retirement Credit
Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:—
"SECTION __. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“COVID-19 essential employee retirement credit bonus” or “COVID-19 credit”, an amount of credit equivalent to the duration of the governor’s COVID-19 state of emergency from March 10, 2020 to June 15, 2021, inclusive, to be added to an employee’s age or years of service or a combination thereof, for the purpose of calculating a retirement benefit pursuant to chapter 32 of the General Laws.
“Essential employee”, all state, county and municipal public health and safety officials, including, but not limited to, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, emergency dispatchers, court officers, corrections officers and public health officials who provided direct patient care, emergency response, or supervision and were required to work in person during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
(b) The secretary of administration and finance shall identify all essential employees of the commonwealth who, during the period covered by the governor’s state of emergency declared on March 10, 2020 until June 15, 2021, inclusive, were: (i) required to work at their respective worksite or any other worksite outside of their personal residence; and (ii) public-facing.
(c) The secretary shall work with the appropriate heads of departments of the commonwealth to identify and provide a list of essential employees and their home mailing addresses to the state retirement board documenting the employees’ eligibility for the COVID-19 essential employee retirement credit bonus. Upon identification of eligible essential employees, such employees shall be credited with a COVID-19 credit as defined in subsection (a). The state retirement board shall notify each eligible essential employee in writing of their receipt of the credit.
(d) A municipality, district or authority may elect to adopt the COVID-19 essential employee retirement credit established in this section. This section shall take effect in a municipality upon its acceptance in the following manner: in a city, by vote of the city council in accordance with its charter; in a town, whether it maintains its own contributory retirement system or participates in a county or regional retirement system, by vote of town meeting; in a district, by vote of the district meeting; and, in the case of an authority, by vote of its governing body. For the purposes of this section, the state employees’ retirement system shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this section.
(e) Upon local acceptance of this section, the chief executive officer of a municipality shall identify all essential employees eligible for the COVID-19 credit pursuant to subsection (a). Upon identification of eligible essential employees, such employees shall be credited with a COVID-19 credit as defined in subsection (a). The retirement board of which the municipality’s employees are members shall notify each eligible employee in writing of their receipt of the credit.
(f) The chief executive officer for a quasi-public agency whose retirement board established under chapter 32 has accepted the COVID-19 credit pursuant to subsection (d) shall work with the agency’s director of human resources to identify employees eligible for the COVID-19 credit pursuant to subsection (a). Upon identification of eligible employees, such employees shall be credited with a COVID-19 credit as defined in subsection (a). The retirement board of which the agency’s employees are members shall notify each eligible employee in writing of their receipt of the credit."
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-307
GOV 307
Vietnam Veterans of America
Mr. Velis moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 1410-0012, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Vietnam Veterans of America in Massachusetts to aid veterans filing claims for medical and financial benefits”; and in said item by striking out the figures "$9,482,239" and inserting in place thereof the figures "$9,582,239".
Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-308
GOV 308
Elections Not For Sale
Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-
"SECTION X. Section 7 of chapter 55 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 13-17, inclusive, the words "A candidate may make expenditures without limitation for the purposes of his own campaign and may make campaign contributions without limitation for the benefit of the non-elected political committee organized on his behalf." and by striking out the third paragraph.