AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMONWEALTH'S EFFORTS TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to make forthwith appropriations for the victims of hurricane Katrina, 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. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, and to meet certain requirements of law, the sum set forth in section 2A is hereby appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. The sum appropriated shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of this item. The funds appropriated in section 2A shall be available for expenditure until June 30, 2006.
NO SECTION 2.
SECTION 2A.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Office of the Secretary
- 1599-2005
- For a reserve to fund the costs associated with assisting the victims of hurricane Katrina, including, but not limited to, costs of commonwealth personnel and overtime expenses, immediate living and medical costs, and costs incurred by political subdivisions of the commonwealth; provided, that the secretary for administration and finance may transfer from this item to other items of appropriation and allocations thereof for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 amounts necessary to meet these costs where the amounts otherwise available are insufficient for the purpose, in accordance with a transfer plan which shall be filed in advance with the house and senate committees on ways and means .................................................................................... $25,000,000
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary for administration and finance may indemnify, exonerate, defend and hold harmless any and all commonwealth employees and other persons, from all personal financial loss and expenses, including legal fees and costs, arising out of or relating to actions taken by these employees or other persons under the authority of this act. Amounts available in the executive office for administration and finance under section 2A may be expended for the purposes specified in this section.