HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 3852
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 1, 2021.
The committee on Transportation, to whom was referred the message
from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to
financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges (House, No. 57),
reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 3852)
ought to pass.
For the committee,
WILLIAM M. STRAUS.
 FILED ON: 5/26/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3852
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
finance improvements to the commonwealth’s transportation system, 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:
1 SECTION 1. To provide for a program of transportation development and
2 improvements, the sum set forth in section 2 for the several purposes and subject to the
3 conditions specified in this act, is hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the
4 disbursement of public funds. The sum made available in this act shall be in addition to any
5 amounts previously appropriated or made available for these purposes.
6 SECTION 2.
7 MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
8 Highway Division
9 6122-2125. For the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as
10 described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws;
11 provided, that a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts
12 Department of Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further
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13 appropriation, for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or
14 town under this item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the
15 department to the city or town not later than March 1 of each year; and provided further, that the
16 commonwealth shall reimburse a city or town under this item, subject to the availability of funds
17 as provided in section 9G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, within 30 days after receipt by the
18 department of a request for reimbursement from the city or town, which request shall include
19 certification by the city or town that actual expenses have been incurred on projects eligible for
20 reimbursement under this item and that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the
21 city or town according to the specifications of the project and in compliance with applicable laws
22 and procedures established by the
23 department…………………………………………...$200,000,000
24 SECTION 3. Item 6121-2118 of section 2B of chapter 383 of the acts of 2020 is hereby
25 amended by striking the figure “$70,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following
26 figure:- “$95,000,000.”
27 SECTION 4. Item 6921-2111 of section 2I of said chapter is hereby amended by striking
28 the figure “$25,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$50,000,000,”
29 SECTION 5. Item 6921-2112 of said section 2I of said chapter is hereby amended by
30 striking the figure “$25,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:-
31 “$50,000,000.”
32 SECTION 6. Section 33 of said chapter is hereby amended by striking the figure
33 “$1,970,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,995,000,000.”
34 SECTION 7. Section 40 of said chapter is hereby amended by striking the figure
35 “$2,190,698,500” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “2,240,698,500.”
36 SECTION 8. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state
37 treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an
38 amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate,
39 $200,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their
40 face, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2021, and shall be issued for a
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41 maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general
42 court under section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds
43 shall be payable not later than June 30, 2056, pursuant to said Section 3 of Article LXII of the
44 Amendments to the Constitution. All interest and payments on account of principal on these
45 obligations shall be payable from the General Fund. Notwithstanding any other general or special
46 law to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general
47 obligations of the commonwealth.
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