AN ACT RELATIVE TO EXPANDING THE MILITARY MISSION AT HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE AND THE US ARMY SOLDIER SYSTEMS CENTER (NATICK).
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to stimulate employment and encourage the expansion of certain federal facilities at the Hanscom Air Force Base and the US Army Soldier Systems (Natick), therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. The general court hereby finds that:
(a) Hanscom Air Force Base, located in the towns of Bedford, Lexington and Lincoln, is a uniquely important presence in the commonwealth and highlights the commonwealth's commitment to the security and defense of the United States of America;
(b) The US Army Soldier Systems Center (Natick) is a uniquely important presence in the commonwealth and highlights the commonwealth's commitment to the security and defense of the United States of America;
(c) Hanscom and Natick are economic engines for the commonwealth, which provide many benefits to the commonwealth in terms of jobs and other economic activity;
(d) Hanscom's and Natick's national defense mission is greatly enhanced by being located in the commonwealth due to their proximity to colleges, universities, research institutions, existing corporate vendors and an educated workforce specializing in research technology and such an environment is likely not reproducible anywhere else in the country;
(e) It would enhance the goals of Hanscom's and Natick's mission and the national defense of the United States as well as Hanscom's and Natick's value to the commonwealth if the mission capacity of Hanscom and Natick were expanded and if similar high technology programs in use throughout the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies were relocated to Hanscom and Natick;
(f) Not only would the nation's defense and the military benefit from such an expansion, but the commonwealth would greatly benefit through additional jobs and growth of the commonwealth's high technology cluster and the additional state revenues that would result therefrom;
(g) Such mission expansion at Hanscom and Natick would be far more likely to occur if the commonwealth were to invest funds in creating, updating and renovating the necessary infrastructure at or surrounding Hanscom; and
(h) The expansion of mission capacity at Hanscom and Natick is in the public interest of the commonwealth and serves a necessary and valid public purpose for which public money may be expended or invested.
SECTION 2. To provide for a program of economic development and improvement, the sums set forth in section 2 are hereby made available to MassDevelopment, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds and approval thereof, and subject to the prior approval of the secretary of administration and finance.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Office of the Secretary of Administration and Finance
1100-1570 For the oversight and implementation of the Hanscom AFB Mission Expansion Project ................. $242,000,000
1100-1580 For the oversight and implementation of the Soldier Systems Center-Natick Mission Expansion Project ..... $19,000,000
SECTION 3. As used in the act, the following terms shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
"Hanscom", the United States Air Force facility known as Hanscom Air Force Base and all of the land, buildings and other structures comprising Hanscom Air Force Base located in the towns of Bedford, Lexington and Lincoln.
"Hanscom AFB Mission Expansion Project", the planning, permitting, design, acquisition, purchase, ownership, lease, use, reuse, rehabilitation, renovation, improvement, furnishing, equipping, construction, reconstruction, operation, development, mortgaging and sale, or any combination of the foregoing, of Hanscom, and any components thereof in accordance with this act all in furtherance of the mission expansion, consisting of the development of up to 1,250,000 square feet of new space to accommodate new missions and relevant support personnel for Hanscom pursuant to specific requirements agreed to by the United States Department of Defense and representatives of the commonwealth, and such project shall also include the financing of construction and renovation of military housing units for Hanscom and, whenever appropriate, the term shall also mean all lands, buildings, structures, parking and appurtenances.
"MassDevelopment", the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency created and existing under chapter 23G of the General Laws.
"Natick", the United States Army facility known as Soldier Systems Center (Natick) and all of the land, buildings and other structures comprising the Soldier Systems Center (Natick) located in the town of Natick.
"Projects", the "Hanscom AFB Mission Expansion Project" and the "Soldier Systems Center-Natick Mission Expansion Project".
"Soldier Systems Center-Natick Mission Expansion Project", the planning, permitting, design, acquisition, purchase, ownership, lease, use, reuse, rehabilitation, renovation, improvement, furnishing, equipping, construction, reconstruction, operation, development, mortgaging and sale, or any combination of the foregoing, of Natick parcels, and any components thereof in accordance with this act all in furtherance of the mission expansion, consisting of the development of up to 110,000 square feet of new space to accommodate new missions and relevant support personnel for Natick pursuant to specific requirements agreed to by the United States Department of Defense and representatives of the commonwealth.
SECTION 4. MassDevelopment shall be a public agency or instrumentality of the commonwealth authorized and empowered to do all acts and things necessary or convenient to oversee and implement the projects including, without limitation, the acquisition, management and disposition of all or any portion of Hanscom or Natick, or interests therein, including improvements thereon, and including, without limitation, buildings and utility systems, equipment and personal property all in accordance with the terms of this act and upon the approval of the secretary of administration and finance. MassDevelopment may, for the purposes of implementing the projects, in its own name or in conjunction with others, license, lease or acquire title to the land, buildings and improvements that comprise all or any portion of Hanscom or Natick upon the transfer or disposition of any portion of Hanscom or Natick by the federal government. Implementation of the projects shall be a corporate purpose of MassDevelopment under chapter 23G of the General Laws, and specifically shall be deemed an exercise of its powers under clause (6) of section 3 of said chapter 23G.
SECTION 5. To meet a portion of the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an amount to be specified by the governor from time to time, but not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of $261,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their face, Military Mission Expansion Loan Act of 2005, and shall be issued for such maximum term of years, not exceeding 20 years, as the governor may recommend to the general court pursuant to Section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2030. All interest and payments on account of principal on such obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any general or special law, bonds and interest thereon issued under this section shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.
SECTION 6. The governor shall not request the state treasurer to issue and sell bonds necessary to carry out any part of section 2 unless the commonwealth enters into an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to move new military missions and personnel to Hanscom or Natick.