Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-874

TRP 874

Commemorating the History of the Commonwealth

Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:- "SECTION ___ There shall be established and set up on the books of the Commonwealth the Commonwealth Heritage Fund, the purpose of which shall be to provide funding for the commemoration of the role of Massachusetts in the founding, establishment, and development of the United States through events including but not limited to the revolutionary war, the creation of the Declaration of Independence, the Massachusetts Constitution, and the Federal Constitution, and other significant events. The fund shall be administered without further appropriation by the secretary of the commonwealth, who shall develop, institute, and maintain a program to carry out the purposes of the fund through grants to state and municipal agencies, school districts, and non-profit organizations, provided that the secretary shall file such plan with he clerks of the House and Senate not later than 90 days prior to its implementation, and that such plan shall, to the maximum feasible extent, provide geographic and demographic fairness in the distribution of such grants.

The fund shall receive 50 percent of the proceeds generated by the registration fee for motor vehicle registration plate known as the MA250 Plate, which shall be transferred to the fund by the registry of motor vehicles on a monthly basis, provided that the fund may also receive gifts, grants, federal funds or legislative appropriations, provided that the secretary shall file an annual report on the operations of the fund, including funds received and expended, entities receiving grants and the projects benefiting from such grants,  and any other relevant information, with the clerks of the House and Senate and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, not later than December 31 of each year.".