AN ACT PROVIDING FOR IMMEDIATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith for the immediate capital improvement needs of the commonwealth, 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 a program to protect, repair and improve the capital facilities of the commonwealth, for a program of capital asset acquisitions, dispositions and other improvements for general government operations and for a capital outlay program to achieve the deployment of broadband access for citizens of the commonwealth, the sums set forth in sections 2 and 2A for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act are hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds. The sums made available in this act shall be in addition to any other amounts previously appropriated for these purposes.
SECTION 2.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance
4000-2024.. For costs associated with planning and studies, dispositions, acquisition of land and buildings and interests therein by purchase, prepayment of lease for a term that exceeds the useful life of the facility, gift or other transfer or by eminent domain pursuant to chapter 79 of the General Laws, for the preparation of plans and specifications, repairs, construction, renovations, improvements, modernization, construction, reconstruction, furnishing, equipping, acquiring, remodeling, refurbishing, asset management, accessibility improvements, demolition, disposition and remediation of facilities and grounds operated by the various departments within the executive office of health and human services, all as the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services and the appropriate commissioners of the departments within the executive office, shall consider appropriate; provided, that $199,000,000 shall be expended for the design and construction of a new facility for the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea, an approximately 154-bed community living center for long-term care for veterans in the city of Chelsea to replace Quigley Memorial hospital; provided further, that costs payable from this item shall include, but not be limited to, the costs of leases of temporary relocation space or equipment as required for completion of the project; provided further, that any federal reimbursement received by a state agency including, but not limited to, the project related to providing health care, human services and veterans’ services in connection with projects funded from this item may be retained by the executive office for administration and finance and expended for the purposes of the project, without further appropriation, in addition to the amounts appropriated in this item. $199,000,000
SECTION 2A.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Office of the Secretary
1599-7065.. For a grant program to cities and towns to provide funding for capital purposes including, but not limited to, technical assistance, planning and studies, preparation of plans, designs and specifications, construction, modernization and reconstruction of facilities, infrastructure, equipment and other capital assets, related to the development, extension and deployment of broadband infrastructure under guidelines adopted by the secretary of housing and economic development............................................................................................... $32,000,000
1599-7066.. For the Massachusetts Broadband Incentive Fund established in section 6C of chapter 40J of the General Laws............ $13,000,000
SECTION 3. To meet 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, $199,000,000. All such bonds issued by the commonwealth shall be designated on their face, Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Capital Improvement Act of 2017, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as recommended by the governor to the general court pursuant to section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. The bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2052. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.
SECTION 4. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2A, 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, $45,000,000. All such bonds issued by the commonwealth shall be designated on their face, Broadband Solutions Act of 2017, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 20 years, as recommended by the governor to the general court pursuant to section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. The bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2042. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.
Approved, November 21, 2017