Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2426 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2426
2	2	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
3	3	_______________
4	4	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
5	5	(2023-2024)
6	6	_______________
7	7	SENATE, July 24, 2023.
8	8	The committee on Senate Ways and Means to whom was referred the House Bill making
9	9	appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 to provide for supplementing certain existing
10	10	appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (House, No. 3994), - reported, in part,
11	11	a "Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 to provide for supplementing certain
12	12	existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects" (Senate, No. 2426) [Direct
13	13	appropriation: $513,000,000]
14	14	For the committee,
15	15	Michael J. Rodrigues 1 of 19
16	16	FILED ON: 7/24/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2426
18	18	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
19	19	_______________
20	20	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
21	21	(2023-2024)
22	22	_______________
23	23	An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 to provide for supplementing certain
24	24	existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.
25	25	Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
26	26	which are forthwith to make supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2023 and to make
27	27	certain changes in law, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the
28	28	immediate preservation of the public convenience.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act
32	32	2and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2023, the sums set forth in section 2 are hereby
33	33	3appropriated from the General Fund, unless specifically designated otherwise in this act or in
34	34	4those appropriation acts, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this
35	35	5act or in those appropriation acts and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public
36	36	6funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts
37	37	7previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of those items. Except as otherwise
38	38	8provided, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
39	39	9 SECTION 2.
40	40	10 EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE 2 of 19
41	41	11 Reserves
42	42	12 1599-4448Collective Bargaining Agreements $26,233,522
43	43	13 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION
44	44	14 Department of Early Education and Care
45	45	15 3000-7040EEC Contingency Contract Retained Revenue $200,000
46	46	16 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
47	47	17 Department of Public Health
48	48	18 4590-0915DPH Hospital Operations $10,710,901
49	49	19 SECTION 2A. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, an
50	50	20alteration of purpose for current appropriations and to meet certain requirements of law, the sums
51	51	21set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Fund or the Transitional
52	52	22Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, as amended by section 4
53	53	23of chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless specifically designated otherwise in this section, for the
54	54	24several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section, and subject to the laws
55	55	25regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Except as
56	56	26otherwise stated, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June 30,
57	57	272024.
58	58	28 OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
59	59	29 Office of the Comptroller 3 of 19
60	60	30 1595-4514For an operating transfer to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund,
61	61	31established in subsection (e) of subdivision (8) of section 22 of chapter 32 of the General Laws
62	62	32 $100,000,000
63	63	33 EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
64	64	34 Reserves
65	65	35 1599-0012For a reserve to support reimbursements for extraordinary relief to school
66	66	36districts pursuant to section 5A of chapter 71B of the General Laws and item 7061-0012;
67	67	37provided, that funds shall be made available for reimbursements in fiscal year 2024 to school
68	68	38districts that experience increases to instructional costs reimbursable under said section 5A of
69	69	39said chapter 71B and incurred such instructional costs during fiscal year 2024 that exceed 25 per
70	70	40cent of such instructional costs incurred during fiscal year 2023; provided further, that funds
71	71	41shall also be made available to reimburse districts in fiscal year 2024 for 100 per cent of any
72	72	42such instructional cost increases exceeding 5 per cent where the total of such increase also
73	73	43exceeds 0.5 per cent of total actual net school spending in fiscal year 2023; provided further, that
74	74	44funds paid from this provision in fiscal year 2024 will not be reimbursable in fiscal year 2025;
75	75	45and provided further, that the funds appropriated in this item shall not revert but shall be made
76	76	46available through June 30, 2025 and may be transferred to item 7061-0012 and expended subject
77	77	47to the conditions specified in said item in the general appropriations act for that year
78	78	48 $75,000,000
79	79	49 1599-1101For a reserve for the payroll of the department of transitional assistance’s
80	80	50caseworkers and other necessary staff to serve applicants and clients of the supplemental
81	81	51nutrition assistance, transitional aid to families with dependent children and emergency aid to the 4 of 19
82	82	52elderly, disabled and children programs; provided, that funds may be transferred to items 4400-
83	83	531000 and 4400-1100; and provided further, that the funds appropriated in this item shall be made
84	84	54available through the year ending June 30, 2025 $60,300,000
85	85	55 1599-2301For a reserve for costs associated with the settlement agreement in
86	86	56Spencer Tatum et al. v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk Superior Court C.A. No.
87	87	570984CV00576 $40,000,000
88	88	58 1599-2302For a reserve to support mitigation costs associated with natural disasters
89	89	59that occurred in 2023; provided, that these funds may be used for mitigation costs related to
90	90	60farms impacted by such natural disasters; provided further, that funds in this item shall be
91	91	61administered by the executive office for administration and finance and the department of
92	92	62agricultural resources; provided further, that efforts shall be made to maximize available federal
93	93	63reimbursement for the purposes of this item; and provided further, that efforts shall be made to
94	94	64maximize opportunities for private contributions for the purposes of this item $20,000,000
95	95	65 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
96	96	66 Office of the Secretary
97	97	67 2000-0120For obligations of the commonwealth to neighboring states incurred
98	98	68pursuant to interstate compacts for flood control $506,140
99	99	69 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
100	100	70 Office of the Secretary
101	101	71 4000-1111For the distribution of funds for fiscally strained hospitals; provided, that
102	102	72up to $91,474,590 shall be distributed to hospitals eligible for the supplemental payment 5 of 19
103	103	73described in section 5.D.22 of the rate year 2023 acute hospital request for applications, available
104	104	74on COMMBUYS, the state procurement system, as bid number BD-23-1039-EHS01-EHS01-
105	105	7579493, as amended by amendment number 3 issued on April 13, 2023 by the office of Medicaid,
106	106	76and as may be further amended from time to time; provided further, that the executive office of
107	107	77health and human services shall disburse funds according to said section 5.D.22 and the terms of
108	108	78any payment agreement between the recipient hospital and the executive office; provided further,
109	109	79that not less than $58,525,410 shall be distributed to non-profit or municipal acute care hospitals
110	110	80licensed under section 51 of chapter 111 of the General Laws that are designated by the center
111	111	81for health information and analysis as non-specialty hospitals, and that had a Medicaid payer mix
112	112	82of not less than 24 per cent in fiscal year 2021 as calculated using data published by the center in
113	113	83May 2023 in its HFY2021 Massachusetts Hospital Profiles databook; provided further, that the
114	114	84executive office shall prioritize funds for hospitals demonstrating significant financial need
115	115	85based on: (i) the current liquidity position of the hospital or its associated hospital health system;
116	116	86(ii) the hospital’s total margin as reported in the center’s quarterly hospital financial performance
117	117	87report published April 2023; and (iii) any other data the executive office deems relevant,
118	118	88including the amount of previous state financial support provided to the hospital in response to
119	119	89the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic; provided further, that not less than $30,000,000 shall be
120	120	90distributed by the executive office to acute care hospitals licensed under said section 51 of said
121	121	91chapter 111 that demonstrate significant financial need based on criteria established by the
122	122	92executive office; provided further, that, in creating its criteria, the executive office shall: (a)
123	123	93consider relative price index; and (b) prioritize hospitals designated by the center as community-
124	124	94high public payer hospitals that had a public payer mix of not less than 74 per cent in fiscal year
125	125	952021 calculated using data published by the center in May 2023 in its HFY2021 Massachusetts 6 of 19
126	126	96Hospital Profiles databook; provided further, that funds unexpended under the previous
127	127	97provisions of this item shall not revert to the General Fund but shall be redistributed by the
128	128	98executive office to acute care hospitals licensed under said section 51 of said chapter 111 that
129	129	99demonstrate significant financial need based on the criteria established by the executive office
130	130	100pursuant to the previous provision; and provided further, that a hospital shall only be eligible to
131	131	101receive funds through 1 of the 3 preceding sets of payment distribution criteria under this item
132	132	102 $180,000,000
133	133	103 SECTION 2CI. For the purpose of making available in fiscal year 2024 balances of
134	134	104appropriations which otherwise would revert on June 30, 2023, the unexpended balances of the
135	135	105appropriations listed below, not to exceed the amount specified below for each item, are hereby
136	136	106re-appropriated for the purposes of and subject to the conditions stated for the corresponding
137	137	107item in section 2 of chapter 126 of the acts of 2022. For items which do not appear in section 2 of
138	138	108the general appropriation act, the amounts in this section are re-appropriated for the purposes of
139	139	109and subject to the conditions stated for the corresponding item in section 2 or 2A of this act or in
140	140	110prior appropriation acts. Amounts in this section are re-appropriated from the fund or funds
141	141	111designated for the corresponding item in said section 2 of said chapter 126; provided, however,
142	142	112that for items which do not appear in said section 2 of said chapter 126, the amounts in this
143	143	113section are re-appropriated from the fund or funds designated for the corresponding item in
144	144	114sections 2 to 2E, inclusive, of this act or in prior appropriation acts. The sums reappropriated in
145	145	115this section shall be in addition to any amounts available for said purposes.
146	146	116 EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
147	147	117 Reserves 7 of 19
148	148	118 1599-0793COVID Response Reserve $26,497,171
149	149	119 1599-9817HCBS Reserve $152,454,518
150	150	120 SECTION 3. Subsection (d) of section 20 of chapter 25A of the General Laws, as
151	151	121appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the word “(b)” and
152	152	122inserting in place thereof the following word:- (c).
153	153	123 SECTION 4. The first paragraph of section 12A of chapter 494 of the acts of 1978 is
154	154	124hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 1 of
155	155	125chapter 128 of the acts of 2022, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until
156	156	126July 31, 2024.
157	157	127 SECTION 5. The last paragraph of said section 12A of said chapter 494 is hereby
158	158	128amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 2 of said chapter 128, and
159	159	129inserting in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
160	160	130 SECTION 6. The introductory paragraph of section 13 of said chapter 494 is hereby
161	161	131amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 3 of said
162	162	132chapter 128, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until July 31, 2024.
163	163	133 SECTION 7. Section 15 of said chapter 494 is hereby amended by striking out the words
164	164	134“and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 4 of said chapter 128, and inserting in place thereof
165	165	135the following words:- and until July 31, 2024.
166	166	136 SECTION 8. The first paragraph of section 9 of chapter 277 of the acts of 1986 is hereby
167	167	137amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 5 of said
168	168	138chapter 128, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until July 31, 2024. 8 of 19
169	169	139 SECTION 9. The first sentence of the first paragraph of section 3 of chapter 114 of the
170	170	140acts of 1991 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by
171	171	141section 6 of said chapter 128, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until July
172	172	14231, 2024.
173	173	143 SECTION 10. The last paragraph of said section 3 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended
174	174	144by striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 7 of said chapter 128, and inserting
175	175	145in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
176	176	146 SECTION 11. The first paragraph of section 4 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by
177	177	147striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 8 of said chapter 128, and
178	178	148inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until July 31, 2024.
179	179	149 SECTION 12. The last paragraph of said section 4 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended
180	180	150by striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 9 of said chapter 128, and inserting
181	181	151in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
182	182	152 SECTION 13. The first paragraph of section 5 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by
183	183	153striking out the words “and until July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 10 of said chapter 128, and
184	184	154inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until July 31, 2024.
185	185	155 SECTION 14. Section 45 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2001 is hereby amended by
186	186	156striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 11 of said chapter 128, and inserting
187	187	157in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024. 9 of 19
188	188	158 SECTION 15. Section 20 of chapter 449 of the acts of 2006 is hereby amended by
189	189	159striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 12 of said chapter 128, and inserting
190	190	160in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
191	191	161 SECTION 16. Section 92 of chapter 194 of the acts of 2011 is hereby amended by
192	192	162striking out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 13 of said chapter 128, and inserting
193	193	163in place thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
194	194	164 SECTION 17. Section 112 of said chapter 194 is hereby amended by striking out the
195	195	165words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 14 of said chapter 128, and inserting in place thereof
196	196	166the following words:- July 31, 2024.
197	197	167 SECTION 18. Section 74 of chapter 10 of the acts of 2015 is hereby amended by striking
198	198	168out the words “July 31, 2023”, inserted by section 15 of said chapter 128, and inserting in place
199	199	169thereof the following words:- July 31, 2024.
200	200	170 SECTION 19. Item 1599-2051 of section 2A of chapter 102 of the acts of 2021 is hereby
201	201	171amended by striking out the words “June 30, 2023”, as inserted by section 45 of chapter 2 of the
202	202	172acts of 2023, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 30, 2027.
203	203	173 SECTION 20. Item 3000-7040 of section 2 of chapter 126 of the acts of 2022 is hereby
204	204	174amended by striking out the figure “$320,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place
205	205	175thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $520,000.
206	206	176 SECTION 21. Sections A1, 17 and 18 of chapter 128 of the acts of 2022 are hereby
207	207	177repealed. 10 of 19
208	208	178 SECTION 22. Section 68 of chapter 179 of the acts of 2022 is hereby amended by
209	209	179striking out the words “July 31, 2023” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-
210	210	180January 31, 2024.
211	211	181 SECTION 23. Subsection (d) of section 81 of said chapter 179 is hereby amended by
212	212	182striking out the figure “12” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 24.
213	213	183 SECTION 24. Subsection (a) of section 89 of said chapter 179 is hereby amended by
214	214	184striking out the words “180 days after the effective date of this act” and inserting in place thereof
215	215	185the following words:- July 1, 2024.
216	216	186 SECTION 25. The salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the
217	217	187following collective bargaining agreements shall be effective for the purposes of section 7 of
218	218	188chapter 150E of the General Laws:
219	219	189 (1) the agreement between the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State Police
220	220	190Association of Massachusetts, Units 5A and C22;
221	221	191 (2) the agreement between the commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Alliance American
222	222	192Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International
223	223	193Union, Local 888, Unit 2;
224	224	194 (3) the agreement between the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Service
225	225	195Employees International Union, Local 509, Units 8 and 10;
226	226	196 (4) the agreement between the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts
227	227	197Organization of State Engineers and Scientists, Unit 9; 11 of 19
228	228	198 (5) the agreement between the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the National
229	229	199Association of Government Employees, Units 1, 3 and 6;
230	230	200 (6) the agreement between the sheriff of Berkshire county and the Berkshire County
231	231	201Sheriff's Office Employees Association, Unit SB3;
232	232	202 (7) the agreement between the sheriff of Berkshire county and the International
233	233	203Brotherhood of Correctional Officers Local R1-297, Unit SB1;
234	234	204 (8) the agreement between the sheriff of Berkshire county and the Berkshire International
235	235	205Union of Electrical Workers – Communication Workers of America, Unit SB2;
236	236	206 (9) the agreement between the sheriff of Hampshire county and the Hampshire Sheriff’s
237	237	207Office Non-Uniform Correctional Association, Unit SH7;
238	238	208 (10) the agreement between the sheriff of Hampshire county and the Hampshire Sheriff's
239	239	209Office Treatment Association, Unit SH6;
240	240	210 (11) the agreement between the sheriff of Plymouth county and the Plymouth Superiors
241	241	211National Correctional Employees Union, Local 104, Unit SP1;
242	242	212 (12) the agreement between the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission and the Service
243	243	213Employees International Union, Local 888, Unit LT1;
244	244	214 (13) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts
245	245	215Society of Professors, MTA/NEA, Amherst Campus, Unit A50;
246	246	216 (14) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Boston Public
247	247	217Safety Officers New England Police Benevolent Association L90, Unit B33; 12 of 19
248	248	218 (15) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the International
249	249	219Brotherhood of Teamsters, L25, Public Safety Lieutenants, Unit B3L;
250	250	220 (16) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the International
251	251	221Brotherhood of Teamsters, L25, Officers, Unit B3S;
252	252	222 (19) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Head Coaches
253	253	223Professional Staff Union, MTA/NEA, Units C and B45;
254	254	224 (20) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Boston Department
255	255	225Chairs Union, MTA/NEA, Unit B50;
256	256	226 (21) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Non-Faculty -
257	257	227Maintenance & Trades MTA, Lowell Campus, Unit L93;
258	258	228 (22) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Non-Faculty - Police
259	259	229Officers Teamsters L25, Lowell Campus, Unit L94;
260	260	230 (23) the agreement between the Essex North and South registry of deeds and the
261	261	231American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 653, Unit SC3;
262	262	232 (24) the agreement between the sheriff of Suffolk county and the National Association of
263	263	233Government Employees, Local 298, Unit SS2;
264	264	234 (25) the agreement between the sheriff of Suffolk county and the American Federation of
265	265	235State, County and Municipal Employees/AFL-CIO, Council 93, Local RN, Unit SS3;
266	266	236 (26) the agreement between the sheriff of Suffolk county and the American Federation of
267	267	237State, County and Municipal Employees/AFL-CIO, Council 93, Local 3643, Unit SS5; 13 of 19
268	268	238 (27) the agreement between the sheriff of Franklin county and the National Correctional
269	269	239Employees Union, Local 106, Unit SF1;
270	270	240 (28) the agreement between the sheriff of Franklin county and the Franklin Sheriff’s
271	271	241Office Non-Unit Employer’s Association, Unit SF3;
272	272	242 (29) the agreement between the sheriff of Worcester county and the New England Police
273	273	243Benevolent Association, Local 275, Unit SW2;
274	274	244 (30) the agreement between the sheriff of Worcester county and the New England Police
275	275	245Benevolent Association, Local 515, Unit SW5;
276	276	246 (31) the agreement between the sheriff of Hampshire county and the Hampshire Sheriff’s
277	277	247Office Jail and House of Correction Supervisory Correctional Officers’ Association, Unit SH3;
278	278	248 (32) the agreement between the sheriff of Worcester county and the National Association
279	279	249of Government Employees, Local R1-255, Unit SW4;
280	280	250 (33) the agreement between the Massachusetts board of higher education and the
281	281	251Massachusetts Community College Council;
282	282	252 (34) the agreement between the trial court of the commonwealth and the National
283	283	253Association of Government Employees/Service Employees International Union, Local 5000,
284	284	254Units J2C and J2P;
285	285	255 (35) the agreement between the trial court of the commonwealth and the Office and
286	286	256Professional Employees International Union, Local 6, Units J6C and J6P; 14 of 19
287	287	257 (36) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the International
288	288	258Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 432, Amherst Campus, Unit A06;
289	289	259 (37) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts
290	290	260Teachers Association/NEA Classified, Boston Campus, Units B31 and B32;
291	291	261 (38) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Faculty Staff Union,
292	292	262Boston Campus, Unit B40;
293	293	263 (39) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the American
294	294	264Federation of Teachers, Local 6350, Dartmouth Campus, Unit D82;
295	295	265 (40) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the American
296	296	266Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 507, Dartmouth Campus, Unit
297	297	267D83;
298	298	268 (41) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the International
299	299	269Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 399, Dartmouth Campus, Unit D84;
300	300	270 (42) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts
301	301	271Society of Professors, Lowell Campus, Unit L90;
302	302	272 (43) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Service Employees
303	303	273International Union, Local 888, Lowell Campus, Unit L95;
304	304	274 (44) the agreement between the sheriff of Hampden county and the Non-Uniform
305	305	275Correctional Association, Unit SH2; 15 of 19
306	306	276 (45) the agreement between the sheriff of Hampden county and the Superior Correctional
307	307	277Officer Association, Unit SH3;
308	308	278 (46) the agreement between the sheriff of Norfolk county and the National Association of
309	309	279Government Employees, Local 202, Unit SN1;
310	310	280 (47) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the New England Police
311	311	281Benevolent Association, Local 190, Amherst Campus, Unit A07;
312	312	282 (48) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the American
313	313	283Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO Faculty Federation, Local 1895 Dartmouth Campus, Units
314	314	284D80 and D81;
315	315	285 (49) the agreement between the University of Massachusetts and the Classified and
316	316	286Technical Union, Lowell Campus, Unit L92;
317	317	287 (50) the agreement between the sheriff of Essex county and National Correctional
318	318	288Employees Union, Local 121, Unit SE7;
319	319	289 (51) the agreement between the sheriff of Middlesex county and the New England Police
320	320	290Benevolent Association, Local 500, Unit SM5;
321	321	291 (52) the agreement between the Middlesex South registry of deeds and Office and
322	322	292Professional Employees International Union, Local 6;
323	323	293 (53) the agreement between the Worcester South registry of deeds and Office and
324	324	294Professional Employees International Union, Local 6; 16 of 19
325	325	295 (54) the agreement between the Hampden registry of deeds and Office and Professional
326	326	296Employees International Union, Local 6;
327	327	297 (55) the agreement between the Middlesex North registry of deeds and Office and
328	328	298Professional Employees International Union, Local 6;
329	329	299 (56) the agreement between the Berkshire Middle, North and South registry of deeds and
330	330	300the Service Employees International Union, Local 888;
331	331	301 (57) the agreement between the commonwealth and the National Association of
332	332	302Government Employees, Local R1-292, Units A and D01;
333	333	303 (58) the agreement between the commonwealth and the coalition of MassDOT Unions,
334	334	304Units D and D06; and
335	335	305 (59) the agreement between the sheriff of Plymouth county and Association of County
336	336	306Employees, Unit SP4.
337	337	307 SECTION 26. Notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 128A of the General Laws, sections
338	338	3081, 2, 2A and 4 of chapter 128C of the General Laws and section 9 of said chapter 128C or any
339	339	309other general or special law to the contrary, the running race horse meeting licensee located in
340	340	310Suffolk county licensed to conduct live racing pursuant to said chapter 128A and simulcast
341	341	311wagering pursuant to said chapter 128C in calendar year 2023 shall remain licensed as a running
342	342	312horse racing meeting licensee and shall remain authorized to conduct simulcast wagering
343	343	313pursuant to said chapter 128C until July 31, 2024; provided, however, that the days between
344	344	314January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024 shall be dark days pursuant to said chapter 128C and the
345	345	315licensee shall be precluded from conducting live racing during that period unless it applies for 17 of 19
346	346	316and is granted a supplemental live racing license pursuant to said chapter 128A; provided further,
347	347	317that the licensee shall not simulcast or accept a wager on greyhound dog racing on or after
348	348	318August 10, 2023 pursuant to section 9 of chapter 128C of the General Laws; provided further,
349	349	319that all simulcasts shall comply with the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. 3001 et
350	350	320seq. or other applicable federal law; provided further, that all simulcasts from states which have
351	351	321racing associations that do not require approval in compliance with the Interstate Horse Racing
352	352	322Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. 3004(a)(1)(A) shall require the approval of the New England Horsemen’s
353	353	323Benevolent & Protective Association prior to being simulcast to a racing meeting licensee within
354	354	324the commonwealth; and provided further, that if the association agrees to approve the simulcast
355	355	325for 1 racing meeting licensee, it shall approve the simulcast for all otherwise eligible racing
356	356	326meeting licensees.
357	357	327 SECTION 27. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department
358	358	328of public utilities may allow recovery by the electric distribution companies of transmission
359	359	329service agreement expenditures and payments associated with clean energy generation power
360	360	330purchase agreements previously approved by the department following a competitive solicitation
361	361	331and procurement conducted under section 83D of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008 in connection
362	362	332with a change in law in the state of Maine, subsequently causing suspension of development
363	363	333construction; provided, however, that if the department elects to allow such recovery, it shall
364	364	334allow recovery for such expenditures and payments that the department determines to be
365	365	335associated with the subsequent construction delay.
366	366	336 SECTION 28. (a) Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the
367	367	337General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital
368	368	338asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the court administrator of the trial 18 of 19
369	369	339court, may convey certain adjacent parcels of land in the city of Framingham acquired for the
370	370	340construction of a building for the first district court of southern Middlesex for nominal
371	371	341consideration to the city of Framingham; provided, however, that the commissioner shall not
372	372	342convey the parcels prior to: (i) the completion of a regional justice center at 121 Union avenue in
373	373	343the city of Framingham; and (ii) a determination by the commissioner, in consultation with the
374	374	344court administrator of the trial court, that the parcels are surplus to the needs of the trial court.
375	375	345The parcels are located at 600 and 602 Concord street in the city of Framingham and are
376	376	346described in deeds recorded in the Middlesex southern district registry of deeds in book 7816,
377	377	347page 107 and book 9859, page 328. The parcels shall be conveyed by deed without warranties or
378	378	348representations by the commonwealth and without restrictions on use or future conveyance by
379	379	349the city; provided, however, that the conveyance may be subject to such additional conditions
380	380	350and restrictions as the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in
381	381	351consultation with the court administrator of the trial court, may determine. The commissioner
382	382	352may, in consultation with the court administrator of the trial court, determine the exact
383	383	353boundaries of the parcels prior to conveyance.
384	384	354 (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, if the city of Framingham
385	385	355elects to purchase the parcels pursuant to subsection (a), the city shall be responsible for all costs
386	386	356and expenses of any transactions authorized in this section as determined by the commissioner of
387	387	357capital asset management and maintenance including, but not limited to, the costs of any
388	388	358engineering, surveys, appraisals, title examinations, recording fees and deed preparation.
389	389	359 SECTION 29. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, items funded
390	390	360in this act, including appropriations in section 2A, shall be supported through the General Fund
391	391	361and the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, at 19 of 19
392	392	362the discretion of the secretary of administration and finance. Not later than September 30, 2023,
393	393	363the secretary shall, submit a report to the senate and house committees on ways and means
394	394	364detailing the source of revenue matched or expected to be matched to each item in this act.
395	395	365 SECTION 30. Notwithstanding section 23 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, section 31
396	396	366of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, a city or
397	397	367town may amortize over fiscal years 2025 to 2027, inclusive, in equal installments or more
398	398	368rapidly, the amount of its 2024 major disaster related deficit. The local appropriating authority,
399	399	369as defined in section 21C of said chapter 59, shall adopt a deficit amortization schedule in
400	400	370accordance with this section before setting the municipality’s fiscal year 2025 tax rate. The
401	401	371commissioner of revenue may issue guidelines or instructions for reporting the amortization of
402	402	372deficits authorized by this section.