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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 955 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2070
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Steven S. Howitt
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol1/17/2023Norman J. Orrall12th Bristol1/18/2023Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden1/31/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 955 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2070
By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2070) of
Steven S. Howitt, Norman J. Orrall and Kelly W. Pease relative to establishing a special
commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities. Municipalities and
Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2177 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 1. Chapter 39 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is
2hereby amended by inserting after Section 24 the following new section: -
3 Section 25. There shall be a commission on unfunded mandates on municipalities,
4hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of 7 members: three of
5whom shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a municipal official, who shall
6serve as co-chair; the director of the division of local mandates, hereinafter referred to as
7director, who shall also serve as co-chair; one member nominated by the Massachusetts
8Municipal Association; one member nominated by the Massachusetts Treasurer’s and Collector’s
9Association; and one member nominated by the Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association. 2 of 2
10 Said members shall serve a term of two year from the date of appointment, unless sooner
11removed by the governor upon the recommendation of the nominating organization after
12consultation with said director. When a vacancy occurs, a new member representing the same
13office shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.
14 Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The commission shall
15compile a list of unfunded mandates and their costs to municipal government, and shall file this
16list with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives together with proposals, if any,
17to mitigate the effects of such mandates.
18 The commission shall have the following responsibilities:
19 1. to review and analyze all unfunded local mandates from state and federal authorities,
20and to deliver an economic impact report of such effects on municipalities to the governor, and
21to the minority and majority leadership of the House and Senate;
22 2. to act as an independent advocate for the interests of local governments in their
23relations with state and federal governments;
24 3. to promulgate rules and regulations governing its procedures and those of the executive
25committee; and
26 4. to perform such other like services as the commission shall decide upon.