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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 467 FILED ON: 1/16/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2037
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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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 establishing a special commission to investigate and study the feasibility of establishing a
municipal building financing authority.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 467 FILED ON: 1/16/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2037
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2037) of Patrick M. O'Connor for
legislation to establish a special commission to investigate and study the feasibility of
establishing a municipal building financing authority. State Administration and Regulatory
Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2091 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 establishing a special commission to investigate and study the feasibility of establishing a
municipal building financing authority.
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. There is hereby established a special commission to investigate and study
2the feasibility of establishing a municipal building finance authority.
3 SECTION 2. The commission shall: (1) consider recommendations from state and federal
4reports, relative to the establishment of a municipal building finance authority; (2) identify and
5consider state and private funding sources with consideration for providing grants and loans to
6cities and towns for the planning, design, and construction of municipal buildings; (3) assess
7innovative financing approaches for assisting municipalities in the planning and construction of
8municipal buildings including, but not limited to, councils-on-aging facilities, public safety
9facilities, town halls, and other municipal buildings or facilities; and (4) determine specific 2 of 2
10powers of a municipal building finance authority including but not limited to (a) establishing
11grant programs, (b) providing architectural or other technical advice and assistance to
12municipalities, general contractors, subcontractors, construction or project managers, designers
13and others in the planning, maintenance and establishment of municipal facilities; (c) perform or
14commission a needs survey to ascertain the capital construction, reconstruction, maintenance and
15other capital needs for municipal facilities in the commonwealth, and (d) recommend to the
16general court legislation as necessary to further the purposes of establishing a municipal building
17finance authority.
18 SECTION 2. The municipal building finance commission shall be comprised of the
19following 13 members: 2 members of the senate appointed by the senate president; 2 members
20of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 member of the senate
21and 1 member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of each; the state
22treasurer or a designee, the secretary of administration and finance or a designee, the secretary of
23public safety and security or a designee, the secretary of elder affairs or a designee; the secretary
24of housing and economic development or a designee; the executive director of the school
25building authority or a designee and a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal
26Association.
27 The members of the commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the
28effective date of this act and shall serve until the completion of the report.
29 SECTION 3. The commission shall report to the general court the results of its study
30together with recommendations and drafts of legislation by filing the same with the clerks of the
31senate and the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2024.