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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 125 FILED ON: 1/6/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3440
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bud L. Williams
_________________
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 the Commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
reconstruction.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/6/2025 1 of 18
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 125 FILED ON: 1/6/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3440
By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3440) of
Bud L. Williams relative to housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
reconstruction in the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3131 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act the Commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
reconstruction.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
address stark racial, social, and economic disparities, therefore it is hereby declared to be an
emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health.
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. Whereas Black and Latino residents of the Commonwealth have been
2impacted in ways disproportionate to their respective numbers in the population; and, the
3disparate impacts of the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has revealed in stark ways existing social
4and economic disparities, which Black and Latino residents have endured for far too long; it is
5the intention of the general court, during the recovery from the pandemic and after, to take
6meaningful actions to redress said disparities and the social and economic determinants that are
7at the root of them. To achieve the purposes as stated in this section and sections 2 through 8, 2 of 18
8inclusive, this Act shall be known as the Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and
9Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Act or the CHEEERR ACT.
10 SECTION 2. As used in sections 2 through 13, inclusive, the following words shall,
11unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—
12 “Agencies”, non-profit organizations located and operating within disparately impacted
13communities with whom the commission may enter into contracts pursuant to section 9 for the
14operation of corps projects.
15 “Commission”, the commonwealth corps commission established pursuant to section
16 “Bureau”, the Massachusetts Bureau on Social and Economic Equity in Recovery and
17Reconstruction established pursuant to section 3.
18 “Corps”, the commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
19reconstruction service corps or CHEEERRS corps established pursuant to section 11.
20 “Corps members”, individuals who commit to no more than 24 months of full or part-
21time service in the commonwealth service corps pursuant to section 12.
22 “Corps projects”, programs established pursuant to this act to satisfy unmet community
23needs.
24 “Disparately impacted community”, shall mean (a) a defined geographic area in which
25Black and Latino residents whose rate of infection for the coronavirus exceeds their
26proportionate share of the population of said geographic area as of May 1, 2020; or, (b) a
27medically underserved community or (c) low and moderate income community; or, (c) an
28educationally disadvantaged community; 3 of 18
29 “Educationally disadvantaged community”, shall mean a local school district in which the
30percentage of children attending school in the district eligible for free or reduced cost lunches
31under eligibility guidelines promulgated by the federal government under 42 USC 1758 exceeds
32the forty percent;
33 "Low and moderate income community", a geographic area, within a city or town,
34consisting of either (a) three or more contiguous census tracts or (b) a zip code or (c) a
35neighborhood, in which either: (1) a majority of the households are low and moderate income
36households as defined herein; or (2) the unemployment rate is at least 20 per cent higher than the
37annual statewide average unemployment rate where such statewide unemployment rate is less
38than or equal to 5 per cent; provided that, if the annual statewide average unemployment rate is
39greater than 5 per cent, the community's unemployment rate need only be 10 per cent higher;
40 "Low and moderate income households", households which have incomes that do not
41exceed 80 per cent of the median income for the area, with adjustments made for smaller and
42larger families, as such median shall be determined from time to time by the Secretary of
43Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 42 USC section 1437(a)(B)(2);
44 “Medically underserved community”, shall have the same meaning as used pursuant to
45section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p); and,
46 “Small business”, shall mean a business (i) owned or controlled by a Black or Latino
47individual or individuals (ii) whose annual net revenue is less than $5,000,000 and (iii) located in
48a low or moderate income community. 4 of 18
49 “Unmet community needs”, needs including, but not limited to, those pertaining to
50education, public health, public safety, the environment and other human needs in underserved
51populations in disparately impacted communities in the commonwealth.
52 SECTION 3. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts bureau on social and economic equity in
53recovery and reconstruction, in this section and in sections 4 through 15, inclusive, called the
54bureau. Said bureau shall consist of an administrator and an advisory council, as described in
55section 15. The administrator shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to paragraph (b), shall
56serve a term of five years, and shall be removed only for cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
57the administrator shall be eligible for reappointment to an additional five-year term.
58 (b) The administrator shall be appointed by the governor and shall serve a term of five
59years; provided that in making said appointment, the governor shall choose the administrator
60from a list of three candidates presented to the governor from a committee, consisting of seven
61individuals comprised as follows: one member appointed to be appointed by the governor, two
62members to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member to be
63appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, two members to be appointed
64by the senate president, and one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; provided
65further , that said all said appointments shall be made within thirty days of passage of this Act.
66 (c) The position of administrator shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five
67of chapter thirty, and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of
68said chapter thirty. The administrator shall devote his or her full time during business hours to
69the duties of the office. 5 of 18
70 (d) The administrator shall, with the advice of the advisory council, have sole charge of
71the supervision and administration of the office. The administrator may, subject to fiscal
72resources available to support the operations of the bureau, employ and remove such assistant
73administrators and other employees and consultants as administrator may deem necessary to
74enable the performance of the functions of the bureau; provided that not more than ten percent of
75said resources shall be expended on staff in any fiscal year. The provisions of chapter thirty-one
76and section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply to the administrator or to such assistant
77administrators and consultants as may be appointed. In making such appointments, the
78administrator shall hire individuals who reflect the racial, ethnic and gender make-up of
79disparately impacted communities.
80 SECTION 4. Subject to the advice of the advisory council, the administrator may apply
81for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any federal, local or private grants of money or
82property, whether real or personal, from any source, whether public or private, bequests, gifts or
83contributions to aid in the financing of any of the programs or policies of the bureau. Such funds
84shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth and deposited in a
85separate account and shall be expended under the direction of the administrator.
86 SECTION 5. The bureau, in fulfillment of its purposes, shall have the following duties
87and functions:
88 (a) to administer and manage the Commonwealth Health, Economic, Education, and
89Equity Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, established pursuant to section 2DDDDD of chapter
9029, and to effectuate the purposes of the bureau as outlined in this section and in sections 4
91through 14, inclusive. 6 of 18
92 (b) to identify, analyze, evaluate and monitor public policies, programs, services and
93regulations promulgated by state agencies (i) in response to recovery efforts pursued in response
94to the Covid-19 pandemic and (ii) in the course of state agency activity; provided that a
95particular focus shall be on the affect said policies, programs, services or regulations may have
96or are likely to have on persons residing in disparately impacted communities. In addition, the
97bureau shall have the following specific functions:
98 (i) to identify and recommend to the secretary of housing and community development
99and to the director of the department of business and technology sources of state, federal and
100private funds which are available to mitigate, or can be used to mitigate, the disparate access to
101capital and technical assistance available to small businesses owned or operated by individuals
102who reside in disparately impacted communities; (ii) to identify and recommend to the
103undersecretary for housing and community development and public instrumentalities with the
104department of housing and community development sources of state, federal and private funds
105which are available to mitigate, or can be used to mitigate, the disparate access to affordable and
106adequate housing on the part of individuals and households who reside in disparately impacted
107communities; (iii) to identify and recommend to the commissioner of public health sources of
108state, federal and private funds which are appropriated or otherwise are available to mitigate, or
109can be directed to mitigate, existing and emerging disparate incidences of illness and disease
110experienced by individuals and households who reside in disparately impacted communities;
111provided that in mitigating such incidences, the commissioner of public health shall expend said
112monies in a manner proportionate to the prevalence of said diseases and illnesses among racial
113and ethnic minorities; provided further, that the administrator may consult with the office of
114health equity as necessary and appropriate to effect the purposes of this subsection; (iv) to 7 of 18
115identify and recommend to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education sources of
116state, federal and private funds which are appropriated or otherwise available to mitigate, or can
117be utilized to mitigate, disparate access to and outcomes in educational instruction and programs
118experienced by students attending schools in disparately impacted communities;
119 (c) to set aside an amount not less than fifty million dollars to implement innovative and
120strategic re-entry programs targeted to returning citizens, as such term is defined in section ___;
121provided, that in implementing said innovative and strategic re-entry programs, the bureau is
122hereby authorized to enter into grants, not to exceed five hundred thousand per annum, with
123nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated track record of assisting returning citizens in
124integrating back into the community; provided further, that the bureau is hereby authorized to
125undertake, solely or in conjunction with state agencies, public instrumentalities, municipalities in
126which disparately impacted communities are located or nonprofits located in disparately
127impacted communities the following activities:
128 (i) the development and implementation of family resource and reunification centers in
129numerous quadrants of a disparately impacted community;
130 (ii) the development and implementation of community-led or neighborhood based, long-
131term substance use treatment services dispersed in numerous locations throughout a disparately
132impacted community;
133 (iii) the development and implementation of community-led counseling services
134dispersed in locations throughout a disparately impacted community;
135 (iv) the development and implementation of transitional to permanent housing for
136returning citizens; and, 8 of 18
137 (v) the development and implementation of community-led post incarceration support to
138replace parole and probation In fulfillment of paragraphs (a) and (b), the bureau is hereby
139authorized to contract with or provide grant funding to individuals, organizations, corporations,
140associations or nonprofit organizations located in disparately impacted communities to carry out
141the purpose and functions of the bureau. In fulfillment of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the
142administrator shall establish and promulgate public guidelines to govern contracts and grants.
143 SECTION 6. In order to fulfill the functions of the bureau such information as the
144administrator may require from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency
145shall be made available without delay, upon written request, to any said department, division,
146board, bureau, commission, or agency of the commonwealth.
147 SECTION 7. (a) The Commonwealth Health, Economic, Education, and Equity in
148Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, established pursuant to section DDDDD of chapter 29, shall
149be within the bureau. The administrator shall oversee the management and activities of the fund
150either directly or through the appointment of a fund director, to be appointed by the
151administrator. The bureau, with the advice of the secretary of administration and finance, shall
152adopt guidelines to implement the fund.
153 (b) The amounts credited to the fund shall be used to support (i) the activities of the
154bureau as outlined in sections 3 through 14, inclusive and (ii) new and innovative strategies and
155efforts to redress disparities in health, economic and educational outcomes by individuals and
156households residing in disparately impacted communities and may be expended, without further
157appropriation. To maximize the mitigation of disparate impacts across the policy and program
158areas, including but not limited to health, economics and education, the administrator may 9 of 18
159expends such amounts are necessary; provided that the administrator shall not expend, annually,
160any more than twenty percent of the amount transferred from the Commonwealth Stabilization
161Fund pursuant to section DDDDD of chapter 29.
162 (c) Annually, not later than October 1, the administrator shall report to the clerks of the
163house of representatives and senate and the house and senate committees on ways and means on
164the fund's activity. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the source and amount of
165funds received; (ii) the amounts distributed and the purpose of expenditures from the fund; (iii)
166any grants provided to stakeholder organizations; and (iv) anticipated revenue and expenditure
167projections for the next year.
168 SECTION 8. There shall be a designated small business stabilization and support fund
169within the bureau. The fund shall be administered and managed by a fund director, who shall be
170appointed by the administrator. The administrator shall adopt guidelines that are necessary to
171implement the purposes of the fund. The administrator may consult with state agencies, public
172instrumentalities, community development financial institutions, and other such organizations as
173the administrator shall deem appropriate in the development of said guidelines. The fund shall be
174initially capitalized by a transfer of three hundred million dollars from the CCHEERS fund.
175Money in or received for the fund may be deposited with and invested by an institution
176designated by the bureau and paid as the fund director shall direct. A return on an investment
177received by the fund shall be deposited and held for the use and benefit of the fund. The bureau
178may make payments from a deposit account for use under this section. The bureau shall use the
179fund to make grants, forgivable loans, low-interest loans or a combination thereof to support the
180ongoing operations of small businesses located in disparately impacted communities. In
181determining whether to make a grant, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or a combination thereof, 10 of 18
182the bureau shall consider whether the action: (i) supports the economic stabilization or expansion
183of small business; or (ii) promotes the retention or creation of jobs by the small business; (iii)
184promotes employment opportunities for residents of disparately impacted communities; or, (iv)
185supports the creation or expansion of a businesses whose success would promote further
186economic development activity within the disparately impacted community and enhances the
187quality of life of residents of a disparately impacted community. The bureau shall ensure that not
188more than fifty million dollars are expended each year to support the making of grants,
189forgivable loans, low-interest loans or a combination thereof. The maximum amount of any
190grant, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or combination thereof shall not exceed one million
191dollars. The bureau shall include an annual summary of activities as part of the report due
192annually pursuant to paragraph (c) of section 7. The summary shall include each grant, loan,
193forgivable loan, low-interest loan or combination thereof made during the preceding calendar
194year and an assessment of the impact each grant, loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or
195combination thereof.
196 SECTION 9. (a) There is established a special fund called the incarceration to
197incorporation entrepreneurship fund, which shall be a segregated fund within the designated
198small business stabilization and support fund, and which shall be administered by a deputy fund
199director to be appointed by the administrator.
200 (b) The incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship fund shall initially be capitalized
201by a transfer of fifty million dollars from the designated small business stabilization and support
202fund; provided, that the following sources of funds may be deposited into the incarceration to
203incorporation entrepreneurship fund: (1) any funds appropriated by the legislature for the 11 of 18
204purposes of this section and section 10; (2) donations from the public; (3) donations from private
205entities; and (4) any funds provided through a sponsorship agreement.
206 (c) Monies in the incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship fund shall be used to
207implement, operate, and administer the incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship program
208 established pursuant to section 10.
209 SECTION 10. (a) There is established within the bureau an incarceration to incorporation
210entrepreneurship program, herein after “the program,” a business development program for
211returning citizens, which shall be operated by the bureau and whose functions are to:
212 (1) provide technical assistance and business development training to returning citizens
213who are seeking to operate or are already operating a business enterprise to be located within a
214disparately impacted community; provided that said technical assistance and business
215development training shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
216 (A) Accounting;
217 (B) Finance;
218 (C) Business management;
219 (D) Business planning;
220 (E) Budgeting;
221 (F) Marketing;
222 (G) Business law; 12 of 18
223 (H) Accessing startup capital, and other business startup topics as identified by the U.S.
224small business administration and certified community development financial institutions;
225 (I) Estimating if the business enterprise is engaged in the construction industry; and,
226 (J) Technology training;
227 (2) provide micro-investments, in the form of grants, in an amount not to exceed fifty
228thousand dollars, to assist returning citizens in the development and operation of a business
229enterprise to be located within a disparately impacted community;
230 (3) provide ongoing mentorship and support; and
231 (4) Provide monthly networking meetings with business leaders, such as:
232 (A) business owners;
233 (B) representatives of financial institutions;
234 (B) angel investors; and
235 (C) heads of venture capital and investment firms; and
236 (b) For the purposes of implementing this section, the bureau shall confer with other
237agencies, organizations, and individuals, including but not limited to, (1) the office of small
238business and entrepreneurship, (2) the small business development center, (3) the Black
239economic council of Massachusetts, (4) the Hispanic chamber of commerce, (5) the Latino
240chamber of commerce, (6) the greater new england minority supplier development council, (7)
241the center for women and enterprise, and any other relevant agency or organization that the
242bureau consider necessary to meet the objectives of this section. 13 of 18
243 (c) For the purposes of this section, the term "returning citizen" means an individual who
244is within six months of release, or has been released, from a local jail, county house of
245corrections or a department of corrections facility and who resides in a disparately impacted
246community.
247 (d) The bureau shall include an annual summary of activities as part of the report due
248annually pursuant to paragraph (c) of section 7. The summary shall include: (1) the number of
249businesses formed and launched by program participants; (a) The number of businesses formed
250by program participants that have sustained operations through the production of the annual
251summary, (3) the number of business enterprises owned and operated by returning citizens and
252whom the program has provided technical assistance and business development training, and (4)
253any other information the bureau deems pertinent to evaluating the program; provided that
254program participants may expressly authorize that their anonymity be preserved in the annual
255summary.
256 SECTION 11. (a) There shall be a commonwealth housing, economic, education and
257equity in recovery and reconstruction service corps to be composed of a limited number of
258carefully selected men and women, not younger than 17 years of age and not older than 26 years
259of age, recruited from disparately impacted communities, to be made available for a limited time
260for projects directed toward satisfying unmet community needs.
261 (b) The corps shall be governed by a commission, which shall be within the bureau,
262consisting of the administrator of the bureau and 14 members to be appointed by the governor; 1
263of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 of whom shall be a
264member of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; 2 of whom shall be members chosen from two local 14 of 18
265chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons, 2 of whom shall
266be members chosen from local affiliates of the National Urban League, 1 of whom shall be a
267member chosen from a Community Health Centers, 1 of whom shall be a member chosen by the
268Massachusetts Senior Action Council, 2 of whom shall be members chosen by the Massachusetts
269Association for Community Action, 2 of whom shall be members chosen from two community
270development corporations, and 2 of whom shall be individuals with expertise in the educational,
271training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth; Each member shall
272serve for a term of 3 years and shall serve without compensation. A person appointed to fill a
273vacancy in the office of a member of the board shall be appointed in a like manner and shall
274 serve for only the unexpired term of such member. A member shall be eligible for
275reappointment. A chairman of the commission shall be elected annually from the membership.
276The bureau shall provide administrative support to the commission as requested.
277 (c) The duties of the commission shall include, but not be limited to: (i) contracting with
278agencies to administer service projects to address unmet community needs by recruiting corps
279members; (ii) reviewing and approving the commonwealth corps plan and annual updates
280prepared by each agency; and reviewing each agency’s performance in carrying out its
281responsibilities pursuant to this act. Each agency the commission contracts with shall be a
282nonprofit organization incorporated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 180 of the General
283Laws for the operation of corps projects.
284 SECTION 12. (a) Corps members shall be residents of disparately impacted communities
285who are not younger than 17 years of age and not older than 26 years of age. Corps members
286shall be the responsibility of each contracted agency. Corps members shall undertake meaningful 15 of 18
287service projects addressing unmet community needs in areas including, but not limited to, the
288environment, education, health and basic human services and may serve full or part-time; but,
289members having direct contact with minor children or vulnerable adults shall be required to pass
290a background check.
291 (b) Each contracted agency shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that corps members are
292placed in corps projects that match their interests, skills and abilities. The contracted agency may
293prescribe additional standards and procedures in consultation with the commission. Each
294contracted agency may enroll individuals who choose to defer a stipend to serve as a corps
295member. Each contracted agency shall seek to enroll individuals who are economically,
296ethnically, socially, physically or educationally diverse.
297 (c) A corps member shall not be subject to chapter 31 or section 9A of chapter 30 of the
298General Laws. Corps members shall not be considered to be an employee of the commonwealth
299entitled to the benefit of chapter 152 of the General Laws, nor shall a corps member be
300considered to be an employee of the commonwealth for any other purpose.
301 SECTION 13. (a) Each contracted agency shall, without limitation and subject to a duly
302executed contract with the commission, administer the corps and in so doing shall: (1) provide
303the personnel necessary to satisfy its obligations pursuant to the contract with the commission;
304 (2) function as or recruit corps sponsors; (3) compensate each corps member via a stipend
305that has the value equivalent to fifteen dollar per hour worked, whether a corps member performs
306on a full-time or part-time basis, (4) initiate studies and analyses of proposed and implemented
307service and volunteer projects, which will aid in addressing local problems; (5) recommend
308expansion of corps opportunities to address all unmet community needs; (6) identify the criteria 16 of 18
309it will use to recruit individuals to serve as corps members (7) establish procedures for matching
310and placing corps members with corps projects; and (8) establish personnel policies and
311procedures for corps members.
312 (b) In entering into a contract with an agency, the commission shall give projects meeting
313the following criteria preference: (1) projects addressing a well-established unmet community
314need or unmet community needs; (2) projects articulating measurable goals, including an
315assessment of the impact on the corps members and on the targeted community; (3) projects not
316using corps members to replace previously budgeted positions or to reduce overtime, hours of
317work or opportunities for advancement for employees or members of corps sponsors; and (4)
318direct service projects that give corps members opportunities to provide direct services
319addressing unmet community needs including, but not limited to, tutoring or mentoring,
320providing health care education, providing services to individuals, families, seniors, homeless
321populations, enhancing historic, cultural, and natural resources of the commonwealth, engaging
322in environmental restoration projects, or enhancing emergency preparedness and response.
323 SECTION 14. There shall be a Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and
324Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Service Corps Fund within the bureau. The fund shall be
325administered and managed by a fund director, who shall be appointed by the administrator. The
326fund shall be established and utilized to support the work of the commission and to support the
327costs of contracts entered into by the commission with agencies for the purposes of section 11
328through 13, inclusive. The fund shall be initially capitalized by a transfer of one hundred million
329dollars from the CCHEERS fund. Money in or received for the fund may be deposited with and
330invested by an institution designated by the bureau and paid as the fund director shall direct. A 17 of 18
331return on an investment received by the fund shall be deposited and held for the use and benefit
332of the fund.
333 SECTION 15. The advisory council of the bureau shall consist of fifteen persons
334qualified by training, experience, or demonstrated interest in the health, economic and
335educational inequities or disparities, to be appointed by the governor as follows:— five for a
336term of three years, five for a term of two years, and five for a term of one year. Upon expiration
337of the term of any appointive member, said member’s successor shall be appointed in like
338manner for a term of three years. The governor shall in like manner fill any vacancy for the
339remainder of the unexpired term. Said members of the advisory council shall elect a person to
340serve as chair and the advisory council shall meet at least quarterly. Members shall serve without
341compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of
342their duties. If any member is absent from two regularly scheduled quarterly meetings in any one
343calendar year, said member shall be determined to have vacated the member’s appointment to
344the council. The chair of the council shall forthwith notify the governor that such vacancy exists.
345Said advisory council shall advise the administrator on any matter within the jurisdiction of said
346bureau and shall advise the administrator in establishing priorities for bureau activities; and
347annually review the programs, budgets and policies of the bureau.
348 SECTION 16. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
349Section 2CCCCC the following new section:
350 Section 2DDDDD. There shall be established and set up on the books of the
351commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Commonwealth Covid-19 Health Economic
352Education Equity in Recovery Fund. The fund shall be credited with: (i) a transfer, to be made by 18 of 18
353the Comptroller, of eight hundred and fifty million dollars from the Commonwealth Stabilization
354Fund, (ii) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and
355specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (iii) interest earned on such revenues; and (iv)
356funds from public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations to further civics and
357history education and professional development. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be
358subject to further appropriation and any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year
359shall not revert to the General Fund.
360 SECTION 17. Notwithstanding and general or special law to the contrary, this act shall
361take effect immediately.