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October 12, 2024 Clouds | 71°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND MODERNIZE THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AND CAPACITIES OF THE JUDICIARY

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to improve and modernize the information technology systems and capacities of the judiciary, 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 improve and modernize the information technology infrastructure of the supreme judicial court, appeals court, trial court and departments of the trial court of the commonwealth, the sums set forth in this act, 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; provided, however, that the amounts specified in an item or for a particular project may be adjusted in order to facilitate projects authorized in this act. The sums made available in this act shall be in addition to any amounts previously made available for these purposes. 

SECTION 2.

JUDICIARY

0330-6000.. For costs associated with establishing digital courthouses and courtrooms; provided, that projects funded in this item shall include an access to justice portal to enable electronic file storage and electronic access to case information by court users; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include a remote video interpreting system; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include a content management system to manage electronically filed documents, forms and evidence with a workflow engine to manage court operations and enable system wide real-time docketing and data access; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include wireless internet access in courthouses for court staff and court users; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include digital signage in all courthouses; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include the costs associated with planning for the replacement of a case management system for the trial court of the commonwealth; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include replacement of the appellate court case management system; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include a supreme judicial court digital reporting system that permits self-publishing for the supreme judicial court and appeals court; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for the parole board of the department of correction to record and securely store audio recordings of parole board hearings; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for New England Partners in Faith and Omnipoint Technology to provide affordable and free internet service to the lowest income residents, with limited internet access, impacted by the Judicial system, to promote equitable access to virtual filing and appearance services of the court, court services, and public safety services in Liberty Heights, Memorial Square, South End, Old Hill, Upper Hill, Six Corners, Bay, Pine Point, McKnight neighborhoods and any other low-income neighborhood of Springfield; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include technology for direct electronic video conferencing with registrars’ and magistrates’ offices of the trial court during hours of operation for attorneys and members of the public; and provided further, that projects funded in this item shall be funded in consultation, as applicable, with the secretary of technology services and security..................................................... $95,000,000


SECTION 2A.

JUDICIARY

0330-6001.. For costs associated with establishing a modern and secure judiciary; provided, that projects funded in this item shall include costs associated with establishing a digital security system to protect court systems, networks and data; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include court system-wide replacement of physical security hardware, which shall include, but not be limited to, video surveillance systems, duress systems, security scanning systems and inter-personnel communications equipment; provided further, that funds in this item shall be expended for projects to support the safety of victims and witnesses while in court-system facilities; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include centralized law enforcement communication systems; and provided further, that projects funded in this item shall be funded in consultation, as applicable, with the secretary of technology services and security................................. $35,000,000

SECTION 2B.

JUDICIARY

0330-6002.. For costs associated with the technological modernization of court administrative operations; provided, that projects funded in this item shall include court system-wide secure voice over internet protocol phone systems; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include an energy management system; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include a data storage system of sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the court system; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include costs associated with enterprise resource planning; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include costs associated with establishing a virtual private network to enable court employee remote access to court systems and data; provided further, that projects funded in this item shall include costs associated with increased bandwidth capacity in all court locations to accommodate a digital court system; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for the improvement and modernization of the information technology systems at the Framingham and Natick District Court; and provided further, that projects funded in this item shall be funded in consultation, as applicable, with the secretary of technology services and security...................................................................................................... $35,500,000

SECTION 3.  Section 9B of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Electronically imprinting the established seal of a court in a form authorized by the supreme judicial court, appeals court, the trial court or any department of the trial court of the commonwealth shall be taken and held to be the seal of such court.

SECTION 3A.  Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 170.  The parole board shall record and securely store all audio for all parole board hearings. Audio from each parolee's hearing(s) shall be securely stored and may only be deleted when that individual is no longer on parole or is deceased.

SECTION 4.  Section 131 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 to 8, inclusive, the words “, subject to such restrictions relative to the possession, use or carrying of firearms as the licensing authority considers proper”.

SECTION 5.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 10 to 17, inclusive, the words “; provided, however, that the licensing authority may impose such restrictions relative to the possession, use or carrying of large capacity rifles and shotguns as it considers proper. A violation of a restriction imposed by the licensing authority under this paragraph shall be cause for suspension or revocation and shall, unless otherwise provided, be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000; provided, however, that section 10 of chapter 269 shall not apply to a violation of this paragraph.”

SECTION 6.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “of”, in lines 55, 256 and in line 364, the second time it appears, the following words: - the department of. 

SECTION 7.  Subsection (d) of said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
A person residing or having a place of business within the jurisdiction of the licensing authority or any law enforcement officer employed by the licensing authority or any person residing in an area of exclusive federal jurisdiction located within a city or town may submit to the licensing authority or the colonel of state police an application for a license to carry firearms, or renewal of the same, which the licensing authority or the colonel shall issue if it appears that the applicant is neither a prohibited person nor determined to be unsuitable to be issued a license as set forth in this section, provided that upon an initial application for a license to carry firearms, the licensing authority shall conduct a personal interview with the applicant.

SECTION 8.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 137, the words “or (C)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (C) a permanent or temporary harassment prevention order issued pursuant to chapter 258E or a similar order issued by another jurisdiction; or (D).

SECTION 9.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 147, the word “may” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- shall.

SECTION 10.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 149 and 150 the words “, in a reasonable exercise of discretion, the licensing authority determines that”.

SECTION 11.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 152 to 157, inclusive, the words “: (i) reliable and credible information that the applicant or licensee has exhibited or engaged in behavior that suggests that, if issued a license, the applicant or licensee may create a risk to public safety; or (ii) existing factors that suggest that, if issued a license, the applicant or licensee may create a risk to public safety” and inserting in place thereof the following words: - reliable, articulable and credible information that the applicant or licensee has exhibited or engaged in behavior that suggests that, if issued a license, the applicant or licensee may create a risk to public safety or a risk of danger to self or others.

SECTION 12.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 225, the word “may” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- shall.

SECTION 13.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 239 and 240 the words “, suspension or restriction placed on” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- or suspension of.

SECTION 14.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 244 to 246, inclusive, the words “or, in the case of a restriction, any time after a restriction is placed on the license pursuant to this section”.

SECTION 15.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 250, the words “, revoking or restricting” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- or revoking.

SECTION 16.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 253 and 254 the words “or may order the licensing authority to remove certain restrictions placed on the license”.

SECTION 17.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 266 and 267, 348, 360 and 361, 409 and 410, and 424, each time they appear, the words “executive director of the criminal history systems board” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services.

SECTION 17A.  Said section 131 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 325, the words “Class A or Class B”.

SECTION 17B.  Section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “firearms”, in line 1, the following words:- , rifles or shotguns.

SECTION 18.  Said section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “may” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- shall.

SECTION 19.  Said section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 6 to 8, inclusive, the words “and subject to such terms and conditions as said colonel may deem proper; provided, however, that no license shall be issued to a person who” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- if it appears that the applicant is not a prohibited person and is not determined unsuitable to be issued a license as set forth in section 131.

SECTION 20.  The first paragraph of said section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clauses (i) to (x), inclusive.

SECTION 21.  Said section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 55, the words “, if in his discretion,” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- if.

SECTION 22.  Said section 131F of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 57 to 58, inclusive, the words “The colonel may also issue such license, subject to such terms and conditions as he deems proper,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The colonel shall issue such license in accordance with the provisions of section 131.

SECTION 23.  Section 7 of chapter 185 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “court”, in line 7, the following words:- , or may be electronically maintained by the recorder’s office. 

SECTION 24.  Said chapter 185 is hereby further amended by striking out section 9, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 9.  An authorized facsimile or electronic rendering of the recorder’s signature on any court records, orders, decisions, documents or legal papers, or copies thereof, or upon any writ, summons, order of notice, order of attachment or execution shall have the same validity as a written signature of the recorder.

SECTION 25.  Section 6 of chapter 185C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “affixed”, in lines 2 and 3, the following words:- or electronically imprinted.

SECTION 26.  Section 14 of said chapter 185C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “papers”, in line 5, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 27.  Said section 14 of said chapter 185C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “thereof”, in line 17, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 28.  Said section 14 of said chapter 185C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “facsimile”, in line 20, the following words:- or electronic rendering.

SECTION 29.  Said section 14 of said chapter 185C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “facsimile”.

SECTION 30.  Section 22 of said chapter 185C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “docket”, in line 4, the following words:- , including the electronic docket.

SECTION 30A.  Section 1 of chapter 188 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Declared homestead exemption” and inserting in place thereof the following: ''Declared homestead exemption'', an exemption in the amount of $500,000 created by a written declaration, executed and recorded pursuant to section 5; provided, however, that: (1) with respect to a home owned by joint tenants or tenants by the entirety who are benefited by an estate of homestead declared pursuant to section 3, the declared homestead exemption shall remain whole and unallocated, provided that the owners together shall not be entitled to a declared homestead exemption in excess of $500,000; (2) if a home is owned by tenants in common or trust beneficiaries, the declared homestead exemption for each co-tenant and trust beneficiary who benefits by an estate of homestead declared pursuant to said section 3 shall be the product of: (i) $500,000 divided by (ii) the number of co-tenants or trust beneficiaries who reside in the home as a principal residence; (3) except as provided in clause (4), each person who owns a home and who is benefited by an estate of homestead declared pursuant to section 2 shall be entitled to the declared homestead exemption without reduction, proration or allocation among other owners of the home; and (4) separate estates of homestead may be declared pursuant to sections 2 and 3 on the same home, and in such event: (i) if the home is owned by tenants in common or trust beneficiaries, the declared homestead exemption for each co-tenant and trust beneficiary who benefits by an estate of homestead declared pursuant to section 3 shall be calculated in the manner provided in clause (2), and the declared homestead exemption for each co-tenant and trust beneficiary who benefits by an estate of homestead declared pursuant to section 2 shall be calculated in the manner provided in clause (3); or (ii) if the home is owned by joint tenants or tenants by the entirety, the declared homestead exemption for the owners together shall be the sum of $500,000 multiplied by the number of declarations recorded pursuant to section 2, plus $250,000; provided, however, that the homestead exemption under this subclause shall remain whole and unallocated among the owners; and provided further, that no owner who declares a homestead, acting individually, shall be entitled to claim an exemption of more than $500,000; and (5) the calculation of the amount of homestead exemption available to an owner shall not sever a joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety.

SECTION 30B.  Said section 1 of chapter 188 is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Owner” and inserting in place thereof the following: “Owner”, a natural person who is a sole owner, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, tenant in common, life estate holder, remainderman or holder of a present, vested and non-contingent beneficial interest in a trust, including any of the foregoing who is a lessee-shareholder of a residential cooperative housing unit.

SECTION 30C.  Subsection (b) of section 3 of said chapter 188 is hereby amended by striking clause (6) and inserting in place thereof the following: (6) upon an execution issued from a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce its judgment based upon fraud, duress, undue influence or lack of capacity.

SECTION 30D.  Section 10 of said chapter 188 is hereby amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting in place thereof the following two subsections: (a) An estate of homestead created under section 3 or 4 may be terminated by any of the following methods: (1) a deed to a non-family member conveying the home, signed by the owner and, if any, a non-owner spouse or former spouse who resides in the home as a principal residence as of the date of the deed, provided however, that a deed to a trustee of a trust for the benefit of a grantor shall not terminate that grantor’s existing homestead, which shall continue as to the interest of that grantor as trust beneficiary; (2) a recorded release of the estate of homestead, duly signed and acknowledged by the owner and, if any, a non-owner spouse or former spouse who resides in the home as a principal residence as of the date of the release, which release may be executed by those persons either separately or jointly; (3) the abandonment of the home as the principal residence by the owner, the owner's spouse, former spouse or minor children, except that such abandonment shall terminate only the rights of the persons who have abandoned the home; provided, however, that no person in military service as defined in 50 U.S.C. appendix, section 511 shall be deemed to have abandoned the home due to such military service; (4) in the case of a home the title to which is held in trust, by either: (i) the execution of a deed or a release of homestead by the trustee; or (ii) action of a beneficial owner identified in the declaration, who is not a minor child, taken in the same manner as provided in clauses (2) and (3);  (5) the subsequent recorded declaration of an estate of homestead under section 3 on other property, except that such declaration shall terminate only the rights of the owner making such subsequent declaration and the rights of that owner's spouse and minor children who reside or intend to reside in the other property as their principal residence; (6) a deed setting forth (i) that the grantor is unmarried or (ii) that the property is either not a home or not the grantor’s home; (7) a deed that includes a statement certified under the penalties of perjury that (i) there is no spouse or former spouse entitled to an estate of homestead or (ii) the property is not the home of the grantor’s spouse or former spouse. (8)  a recorded affidavit pursuant to section 5B of chapter 183 setting forth that, at the time of delivery of a deed, mortgage or other instrument of conveyance to a non-family member, (i) the grantor was unmarried, or (ii) the grantor had no spouse or former spouse entitled to claim the benefit of an existing estate of homestead, or (iii) the property was not a home, or (iv) the property was not the home of the grantor or the grantor’s spouse or former spouse; provided, however, that the affidavit may be recorded simultaneously or subsequent to the deed, mortgage or other instrument of conveyance; (9) a divorce judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction shall release the homestead of a spouse who (a) is required therein to convey title to the home to the other spouse, or (b) was not an owner of the home and was not awarded therein either title or possessory rights in the home.
(b)  No deed between spouses or former spouses or co-owners who individually or jointly hold an estate of homestead under section 3 or section 4 and no deed between a trustee and a trust beneficiary or between a life tenant and a remainderman shall terminate the homestead unless each co-owner, spouse, former spouse, trust beneficiary or remainderman entitled to the benefit of the homestead has executed an express release thereof pursuant to clause (2) or clause (4) of subsection (a).

SECTION 30E.  Section 11 of said chapter 188 is hereby amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following: (a) If a home that is subject to an estate of homestead is sold, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, taken or damaged by fire or other casualty, then the proceeds of any such sale, taking or damage shall be entitled to the protection of this chapter during the following periods: (1) in the event of a sale, whether voluntary or involuntary, or a taking, for a period ending on the date on which the person benefited by the homestead either acquires another home the person intends to occupy as a principal residence or 1 year after the date on which the sale or taking occurred, whichever first occurs; and (2) in the event of a fire or other casualty, for a period ending on: (i) the date upon which the reconstruction or repair to the home is completed or the date on which the person benefited by the homestead acquires another home the person intends to occupy as a principal residence; or (ii) 2 years after the date of the fire or other casualty, whichever first occurs.

SECTION 30F.  Said chapter 188 is hereby amended by striking section 13 and inserting in place thereof the following section: 
Section 13.  A recorded deed, release, mortgage, affidavit or other instrument of conveyance containing a statement of any facts set forth in clauses (6), (7) or (8) of subsection (a) of section 10 may be relied upon by a good faith purchaser for value and shall be conclusive proof of the parties, if any, then entitled to claim an estate of homestead.  An affidavit pursuant to clause (7) of subsection (a) of section 10 shall be accepted in the appropriate registry of deeds or registration district of the land court. The subsequent residency or renewal of residency in the home by a grantor or spouse of the grantor, releaser or mortgagor shall not defeat the priority of a mortgage, release or conveyance accepted in reliance on such recorded deed, release, mortgage, affidavit or other instrument of conveyance.

SECTION 30G.  The provisions of this act shall apply to estates of homestead arising or created before, on or after the effective date, except with respect to the subject matter of any final judgment to the contrary by a court of competent jurisdiction in an action commenced prior to said effective date.

SECTION 31.  Section 3A of chapter 212 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “signed”, in line 4, the following words:- , by hand or by electronic means,.

SECTION 32.  Section 26 of said chapter 212, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The records of courts, including electronic records, which are transferred to the superior court shall remain in custody of the clerks, whether in physical or electronic form.

SECTION 33.  Said section 26 of said chapter 212, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “seal”, in line 8, the following words:- , which may be electronically imprinted,.

SECTION 34.  Section 36 of chapter 215 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the words “books kept therefor” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- books or electronically.

SECTION 35.  Said section 36 of said chapter 215, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “process”, in line 16, the following words:- or electronically.

SECTION 36.  Section 53 of said chapter 215, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “documents”, in line 4, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 37.  Section 15 of chapter 217 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “papers”, in line 2, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 38.  Section 26 of said chapter 217, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “signing”, in line 1, the following words:- or electronic rendering.

SECTION 39.  Section 2A of chapter 218 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “papers”, in line 6, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 40.  Section 12 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “papers”, in line 10, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 41.  Section 13 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “kept”, in line 3, the following words:- in the trial court electronic document management system or.

SECTION 42.  Section 14 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “facsimile”, in lines 7 and 12, in each instance, the following words:- or electronic rendering.

SECTION 43.  Said section 14 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 8, the word “facsimile”.

SECTION 44.  Said section 14 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “Said facsimile”, in line 13, and inserting in place thereof the following word:- Such.

SECTION 45.  Section 44 of said chapter 218, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “signed”, in line 2, the following words:- by hand or electronically.

SECTION 46.  Section 14 of chapter 221 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “papers”, in line 4, the following words:- , whether in physical or electronic form,.

SECTION 47.  Section 17 of said chapter 221, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the word “A”, in line 1, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- An authorized electronic rendering or a.

SECTION 48.  Section 20 of chapter 223 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “signed”, in line 2, the following words:- , by hand or by electronic means.

SECTION 48A.  Section 20J of chapter 233 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “worker”, in line 10, the following words:- , licensed mental health counselor.

SECTION 49.  Section 6 of chapter 248 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “signed”, in line 2, the following words:- , by hand or electronically,.

SECTION 49A.  Section 2A of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting before the first sentence the following sentence:- The signature on the warrant may be made by electronic signature.

SECTION 49B.  Section 2B of said chapter 276, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “personally”, in lines 1 and 2 and 38, in each instance, the following words:- or through wire or electronic means.

SECTION 49C.  Said section 2B of said chapter 276, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “form”, in line 13, the following words:- and the signature therein be made by electronic signature.

SECTION 50.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for cases that are electronically filed in any state court in the commonwealth, any statutory requirement of a written signature on a document to be filed or any statutory requirement of a written signature in communications between the court and a party shall be satisfied if the document includes a signature in a form authorized by the supreme judicial court, the appeals court, the trial court of the commonwealth or any department of the trial court.

SECTION 51.  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, but not exceeding in the aggregate $95,000,000. All such bonds issued by the commonwealth shall be designated on their face, Judiciary Information Technology and Innovation Act of 2022, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 5 years, as the governor may recommend 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, 2032. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, bonds and interest thereon issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.

SECTION 52.  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, but not exceeding in the aggregate $35,000,000. All such bonds issued by the commonwealth shall be designated on their face, Judiciary Information Technology and Innovation Act of 2022, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 5 years, as the governor may recommend 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, 2032. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, bonds and interest thereon issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.

SECTION 53.  To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2B, 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, but not exceeding in the aggregate $35,500,000. All such bonds issued by the commonwealth shall be designated on their face, Judiciary Information Technology and Innovation Act of 2022, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 5 years, as the governor may recommend 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, 2032. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, bonds and interest thereon issued pursuant to this section shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.

Governor returned the following section with recommendation of amendment, for message see H5180
SECTION 54.  The unexpended balance in item 1102-5700, as authorized pursuant to chapter 113 of the acts of 2018, shall be expended for the costs of the reconstruction or replacement of court facilities located in the downtown area of the city of New Bedford.

SECTION 55.  Sections 3, 3A and 23 to 50, inclusive, shall take effect 90 days after the effective date of this act.

Approved, August 10, 2022.