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Bill H.4003
SECTION 1.
To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2025, the sums set forth in section 2 are hereby appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise in this act or in those appropriation acts, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act or in those appropriation acts, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
These sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made available for the purposes of those items.
These sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
SECTION 2.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Group Insurance Commission
1108-5200
Group Insurance Premium and Plan Costs
$240,000,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF VETERANS’ SERVICES
1410-0400 Veterans’ Benefits…………………………………………………….......$5,800,000
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
1599-3384
Settlements and Judgments
$28,917,460
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Department of Early Education and Care
3000-3060
DCF and DTA Related Child Care
$95,554,342
3000-4060
Income-Eligible Child Care
$94,015,214
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1595-1068
Medical Assistance Trust Fund
$134,498,420
Department of Public Health
4513-1012
Women Infants and Children Program Manufacturer Rebates
$400,000
4590-0912
Western Massachusetts Hospital Retained Revenue
$1,200,000
Executive Office of Aging and Independence
9110-1630
Home Care Services
$60,000,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
Office of the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities
7004-9316
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
$42,910,506
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
State Police
8100-0006
Private Detail Retained Revenue
$7,750,000
8100-1004
State Police Crime Laboratory
$4,193,083
Military Division
8700-0001
Military Division
$593,539
SECTION 2A.
To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, and to meet certain requirements of law, the sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Fund unless specifically designated otherwise in this section, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section, and subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Except as otherwise stated, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Reserves
1599-1776
For a reserve to support celebrations of the United States’ semiquincentennial anniversary; provided, that funds may be made available for statewide initiatives to promote the anniversary and for grants to municipalities for public safety, transportation and logistical costs associated with anniversary celebrations; and provided further, that at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, funds may be transferred from this item to the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund established in section 13T of chapter 23A of the General Laws
$15,000,000
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Department of Transitional Assistance
4400-1033
For the costs associated with the transition to chipped electronic benefits transfer cards by the department of transitional assistance; provided, that at the direction of the commissioner of transitional assistance, funds may be transferred from this item to item 4400-1000; and provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall be made not revert but shall be made available for these purposes through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027
$15,500,000
Department of Public Health
4510-0794
For competitive grants to reimburse municipalities for extraordinary emergency medical service costs; provided, that funds in this item shall be administered by the department of public health and shall be reimbursed based on eligibility criteria established by the department
$10,000,000
SECTION 3. Section 40 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(d) The boards of trustees for each state-operated veterans’ home may receive donations to benefit the homes. The state treasurer shall receive, deposit, and invest all donations made to the state-operated veterans’ homes. The trustees may expend the donated funds for the direct benefit of the veterans who reside in the state-operated veterans’ homes, acting as fiduciaries with the care, skill and diligence that a prudent person would use.
SECTION 4. Chapter 6D of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out section 6, as most recently amended by section 14 of chapter 343 of the acts of 2024, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 6. (a) Each acute hospital, ambulatory surgical center, pharmaceutical manufacturing company and pharmacy benefit manager shall pay to the commonwealth an amount for the estimated expenses of the commission.
(b) The assessed amount for acute hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers shall be not less than 30 per cent nor more than 40 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the commission minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the commission; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the acute hospital’s and ambulatory surgical center's gross patient service revenues to the total gross patient service revenues of all such hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. Each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall make a preliminary payment to the commission on October 1 of each year in an amount equal to 1/2 of the previous year’s total assessment. Thereafter, each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall pay, within 30 days’ notice from the commission, the balance of the total assessment for the current year based upon its most current projected gross patient service revenue. The commission shall subsequently adjust the assessment for any variation in actual and estimated expenses of the commission and for changes in acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center gross patient service revenue. Such estimated and actual expenses shall include an amount equal to the cost of fringe benefits and indirect expenses, as established by the comptroller under section 5D of chapter 29. In the event of late payment by any such acute hospital or ambulatory surgical center, the treasurer shall advance the amount of due and unpaid funds to the commission prior to the receipt of such monies in anticipation of such revenues up to the amount authorized in the then current budget attributable to such assessments and the commission shall reimburse the treasurer for such advances upon receipt of such revenues. This section shall not apply to any state institution or to any acute hospital which is operated by a city or town.
(c) To the maximum extent permissible under federal law, and provided that such assessment will not result in any reduction of federal financial participation in Medicaid, the assessed amount for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies shall be not less than 5 per cent nor more than 10 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the commission minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the commission; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each pharmaceutical manufacturing company shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the manufacturer’s total outpatient prescription drug revenue derived from the sales within the Commonwealth to the total outpatient prescription drug revenue of all manufacturers derived from sales within the Commonwealth.
(d) To the maximum extent permissible under federal law, and provided that such assessment will not result in any reduction of federal financial participation in Medicaid, the assessed amount for pharmacy benefit managers shall be not less than 5 per cent nor more than 10 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the commission minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the commission; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each pharmacy benefit manager shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the claims paid by the pharmacy benefit manager attributed to residents of the commonwealth for whom it manages pharmaceutical benefits on behalf of carriers to the total of all such claims paid by all pharmacy benefit managers attributed to residents of the commonwealth for whom they manage pharmaceutical benefits on behalf of carriers.
(e) Each pharmaceutical manufacturing company and each pharmacy benefit manager shall make a preliminary payment to the commission annually on October 1 in an amount equal to 1/2 of the previous year's total assessment. Thereafter, each pharmaceutical manufacturing company and each pharmacy benefit manager shall pay, within 30 days of receiving notice from the commission, the balance of the total assessment for the current year as determined by the commission.
SECTION 5. Section 61 of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 132, the words “March 15” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- June 1.
SECTION 6. Section 11M of chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 52 to 54, inclusive, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the commission shall not approve such a request if the request would exceed an annual reimbursement of $3,000,000.
SECTION 7. Chapter 12C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 7, as most recently amended by section 38 of chapter 343 of the acts of 2024, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 7. (a) Each acute hospital, ambulatory surgical center, pharmaceutical manufacturing company and pharmacy benefit manager, shall pay to the commonwealth an amount for the estimated expenses of the center and for the other purposes described in this chapter which shall include any transfer made to the Community Hospital Reinvestment Trust Fund established in section 2TTTT of chapter 29.
(b) The assessed amount for acute hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers shall be not less than 30 per cent nor more than 40 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the center and for the other purposes described in this chapter which shall include any transfer made to the Community Hospital Reinvestment Trust Fund established in section 2TTTT of chapter 29 minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the center’s publication or dissemination of reports and information; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the acute hospital’s or ambulatory surgical center's gross patient service revenues to the total gross patient services revenues of all such hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. Each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall make a preliminary payment to the center on October 1 of each year in an amount equal to 1/2 of the previous year’s total assessment. Thereafter, each acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center shall pay, within 30 days’ notice from the center, the balance of the total assessment for the current year based upon its most current projected gross patient service revenue. The center shall subsequently adjust the assessment for any variation in actual and estimated expenses of the center and for changes in acute hospital and ambulatory surgical center gross patient service revenue. Such estimated and actual expenses shall include an amount equal to the cost of fringe benefits and indirect expenses, as established by the comptroller under section 5D of chapter 29. In the event of late payment by any such acute hospital or ambulatory surgical center, the treasurer shall advance the amount of due and unpaid funds to the center prior to the receipt of such monies in anticipation of such revenues up to the amount authorized in the then current budget attributable to such assessments and the center shall reimburse the treasurer for such advances upon receipt of such revenues. This section shall not apply to any state institution or to any acute hospital which is operated by a city or town.
(c) To the maximum extent permissible under federal law, and provided that such assessment will not result in any reduction of federal financial participation in Medicaid, the assessed amount for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies shall be not less than 5 per cent nor more than 10 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the center minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the center’s publication or dissemination of reports and information; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each pharmaceutical manufacturing company shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the manufacturer’s total outpatient prescription drug revenue derived from the sales within the Commonwealth to the total outpatient prescription drug revenue of all manufacturers derived from sales within the Commonwealth.
(d) To the maximum extent permissible under federal law, and provided that such assessment will not result in any reduction of federal financial participation in Medicaid, the assessed amount for pharmacy benefit managers shall be not less than 5 per cent nor more than 10 per cent of the amount appropriated by the general court for the expenses of the center minus amounts collected from: (i) filing fees; (ii) fees and charges generated by the center’s publication or dissemination of reports and information; and (iii) federal matching revenues received for these expenses or received retroactively for expenses of predecessor agencies. Each pharmacy benefit manager shall pay such assessed amount multiplied by the ratio of the claims paid by the pharmacy benefit manager attributed to residents of the commonwealth for whom it manages pharmaceutical benefits on behalf of carriers to the total of all such claims paid by all pharmacy benefit managers attributed to residents of the commonwealth for whom they manage pharmaceutical benefits on behalf of carriers.
(e) Each pharmaceutical manufacturing company and each pharmacy benefit manager shall make a preliminary payment to the center annually on October 1 in an amount equal to 1/2 of the previous year’s total assessment. Thereafter, each pharmaceutical manufacturing company and each pharmacy benefit manager shall pay, within 30 days’ notice from the center, the balance of the total assessment for the current year as determined by the center.
SECTION 8. Section 16 of chapter 23D of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 48 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out, in the first sentence, the words “Growth Capital Corporation” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Development Finance Agency
SECTION 9. Section 1 of chapter 23G of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 51 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation”, and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-
“Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation”, the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation established in section 105 of chapter 240 of the acts of 2010, the power, functions, assets and liabilities of which have been merged into the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.
SECTION 10. Subsection (l) of section 2 of said chapter 23G of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 55 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-
The agency shall be the successor to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, previously established in section 105 of chapter 240 of the acts of 2010.
SECTION 11. Said section 2 of said chapter 23G of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 55 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (m).
SECTION 12. Subsection (a) of section 3 of said chapter 23G of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 56 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (36), and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
(36) to borrow money by the issuance of debt obligations whether tax exempt or taxable and secure such obligations by the pledge of its revenues or the revenues, mortgages and notes of others;
SECTION 13. Said section 3 of said chapter 23G of the General Laws, as most recently amended by sections 56 and 57 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “to administer trusts,”.
SECTION 14. Subsection (d) of section 8 of said chapter 23G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “directors,” in line 134, the following words:- or a duly authorized committee of the board.
SECTION 15. Subsection (n) of section 29A of said chapter 23G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 221, the words “convene on a monthly basis in order to”.
SECTION 16. Subsection (b) of section 48 of said chapter 23G, as most recently amended by section 58 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out, the first time it appears, the word “corporation” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- agency.
SECTION 17. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2JJJJJJ the following section:
Section 2KKKKKK. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate, non-budgeted special revenue fund known as the Office of the Inspector General Recovery Fund, which shall be administered by the office of the inspector general. The fund shall be credited with any monies payable to the inspector general from civil recoveries, settlement funds, or recoupment of administrative and investigatory costs and may earn and be credited interest.
Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, without further appropriation, for the office of the inspector general’s operational, administrative and investigatory purposes.
The unexpended balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years. No expenditure made from the fund shall cause the fund to be in deficit at any point.
SECTION 18. Section 39M of chapter 30 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 21, 54, 57 and 66, the figure “$50,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $75,000.
SECTION 19. Said section 39M of said chapter 30, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 67, the figure “$150,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $250,000.
SECTION 20. Said section 39R of said chapter 30, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 10, the words “one hundred thousand dollars” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $250,000.
SECTION 21. Section 33 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of the third paragraph the following clause:- ; provided, however, that the length of service of a person appointed through an original appointment to a civil service position of municipal police officer or fire officer from a local public safety register pursuant to Section 59A of this chapter shall be calculated from and, in all instances remain, the date of such original appointment from the register and shall not be subject to adjustment at any time for prior employment by the commonwealth or another city or town.
SECTION 22. Section 59 of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in the last sentence of the second paragraph, the words “three years after certification” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 3 years after appointment and performance of the job duties.
SECTION 23. Subsection (a) of section 59A of said chapter 31, as appearing in section 147 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended in the first paragraph by inserting after the words “municipal police” the following words:- , MBTA police,.
SECTION 24. Section 59A of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(g) Notwithstanding any prior appointments, any person who receives an appointment pursuant to this section shall have their local public safety register appointment date as their seniority date for all purposes under this chapter.
SECTION 25. Section 75 of said chapter 31, as amended by chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence:-
Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit civil service employees to furnish information to, or cooperate with, law enforcement authorities in contravention of section 11I½ of chapter 12.
SECTION 26. Section 1A of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as inserted by section 36 of chapter 239 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the definition for “Public service corporation” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-
“Public service corporation”, (i) a corporation or other entity duly qualified to conduct business in the commonwealth that owns or operates or proposes to own or operate assets or facilities to provide electricity, gas, telecommunications, cable, water or other similar services of public need or convenience to the public directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, an entity that owns or operates or proposes to own or operate electricity generation, storage, transmission or distribution facilities, or natural gas facilities including pipelines, manufacturing, and storage facilities; (ii) any transportation company that owns or operates or proposes to own or operate railways and related common carrier facilities; (iii) any communications company, including a wireless communications company or cable company that owns or operates or proposes to own or operate communications or cable facilities; and (iv) any water company that owns or operates or proposes to own or operate facilities necessary for its operations.
SECTION 27. Section 64A of chapter 60 of the General Laws, as inserted by section 93 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(a) This section shall apply to the sale or retention of property by a municipality or a purchaser of tax receivables following a final judgment of the land court foreclosing the right of redemption under this chapter. Not more than 180 days after the entry of judgment foreclosing the right of redemption becomes final, with either no appeal having been taken within the applicable time limit or any appeal taken having resulted in the entry of judgment pursuant to the rescript of the supreme judicial court or appeals court, the judgment holder shall proceed to sell the property in the manner provided in this section and section 77B, unless, in cases where the judgment holder is a municipality, the chief executive authority thereof makes a written determination, within 120 days of the date of final judgment foreclosing the right of redemption, that the property will be retained for municipal use. The judgment holder shall notify the former owners of the property and all others known to hold the right of redemption in the property at the time judgment is entered, by certified mail, to their last known address or place of business, of: (i) the judgment holder’s election; and (ii) the rights and procedures for claiming excess equity set forth in this section.
SECTION 28. Said section 64A of said chapter 60, as inserted by said section 93 of said chapter 140, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(c)(1) A municipality or a purchaser of tax receivables that has elected to sell the property under subsection (a) shall, not later than 180 days after the final judgment of the land court, list the property for sale with a real estate agent or broker licensed in the commonwealth or auction the property with an auctioneer licensed in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the judgment holder and any parties entitled to claim excess equity under this section may agree to a later date for sale or auction; provided further, that the real estate agent, broker or auctioneer shall not hold elected or appointed office or be employed by the municipality in which the property is located; provided further, that a judgment holder who elects to auction the property shall accept bids that are not less than 2/3 of the appraised value of the property consistent with the appraisal requirements of subsection (b); and provided further, that a judgment holder who elects to auction the property shall not accept bids by individuals that hold elected or appointed office or are employed by the municipality in which the property is located.
(2) The judgment holder for a property listed for sale pursuant to paragraph (1) that does not sell within 12 months of the date of listing shall: (i) auction the property with an auctioneer licensed in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the auctioneer does not hold elected or appointed office or is not employed by the municipality in which the property is located; (ii) accept bids that are not less than 2/3 of the appraised value of the property consistent with the appraisal requirements of subsection (b); and (iii) not accept bids by individuals that hold elected or appointed office or are employed by the municipality in which the property is located.
(3) A property shall not be considered retained by a judgment holder that has elected under subsection (a) to sell or auction the property and has complied with the requirements of paragraph (1) but has been without success in such sale or auction. If a property has not been sold after an auction, the judgment holder shall notify any parties entitled to claim excess equity of their intention to continue the sale to another date and not to retain the property. Such notice shall be mailed, by certified mail, to any parties entitled to claim excess equity, or their successors in interest, to their last known address or place of business.
SECTION 29. Section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by chapter 178 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the words “pleasure passenger vehicles owned by veterans who, according to the records of the United States Veterans’ Administration, has been determined to have a service-connected disability rating of 60 per cent or greater and by reason of service in the armed forces of the United States have suffered loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet; or loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands; or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the following status: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than twenty degrees in the better eye, or any other disability or handicap of such veterans which may be determined by the medical advisory board as established by section eight C, and”.
SECTION 30. The seventh paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third and fourth sentences.
SECTION 31. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “and the words “Disabled Veteran” for a pleasure passenger vehicle or a pick-up truck owned or leased by and used by a veteran who, according to the records of the United States Veterans’ Administration, by reason of service in the armed forces of the United States has suffered loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet; or loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands; or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the following status: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater that 20 degrees in the better eye, or any other disability or handicap”.
SECTION 32. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the twelfth paragraph.
SECTION 33. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the fifteenth through seventeenth paragraphs, inclusive.
SECTION 34. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the nineteenth through twenty-second paragraphs, inclusive.
SECTION 35. Said chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2I the following section:-
Section 2J. (a) The registrar shall design and maintain a series of distinct and individual license plates recognizing those who have served in the military and for those who deserve special recognition relating to or deriving from military service.
(b) Any veteran meeting the definition of a veteran in clause forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 or section 1 of chapter 115, or who is eligible for the annuity provided under section 6C of chapter 115, shall be eligible and entitled to a veteran plate which shall carry the denotation “VETERAN”, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of such status as determined by the registrar.
(c) The series of distinct and individual license plates recognizing those who have served in the military and for those who deserve special recognition relating to or deriving from military service shall include the license plates described in the following paragraphs:
(1) Veterans ranked as at least 60 per cent disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including those who have suffered the loss of a limb, permanent visual acuity loss of 20/200 in an eye, or are otherwise determined to be disabled or handicapped by the medical advisory board established in section 8C, shall be entitled to a distinctive disabled veteran plate.
(2) Veterans who have been captured and incarcerated by foreign forces in conflict or held as prisoners of war shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status.
(3) Veterans who are members of the Legion of Valor of the United States of America, Incorporated shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status.
(4) Veterans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status, including, subject to availability, the use of the initials of the award recipient followed by CMH signifying their award.
(5) Veterans awarded the Order of the Purple Heart shall be entitled to a distinctive plate indicating that status which shall include the words “COMBAT WOUNDED.”
(6) Survivors of the attack upon Pearl Harbor shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status and bearing the word “VETERAN” thereupon.
(7) Residents of the commonwealth serving in any branch of the national guard shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status.
(8) Residents of the commonwealth awarded the Medal of Liberty under section 67A of chapter 33 shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status.
(9) The next of kin of a member of the armed forces, in possession of a Gold Star Lapel Button under the regulations of the United States Secretary of Defense, shall be entitled to a Gold Star Family distinctive plate. Said button shall not be an eligibility requirement for those who have presented other satisfactory evidence of their status, as determined by the registrar.
(d) A veteran who has served in the armed forces and is entitled to a veteran license plate shall also be entitled to the issuance of a decal or emblem denoting their branch of service. Residents of the commonwealth identifying as a woman veteran who served in any branch shall be entitled to a distinctive decal which the registry of motor vehicles shall design and issue.
(e) The following individuals shall be entitled to a distinctive plate, emblem or decal denoting their award status:
(1) Owners of private vehicles awarded 1 of the following decorations for valor or gallantry: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Distinguish Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross, or any other similar award designated by the secretary of veterans’ services.
(2) A resident of the commonwealth qualifying as a Gold Star parent, child, sibling, grandchild or spouse. A distinctive plate, under this paragraph, may not be used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that has promotional or advertising material thereupon.
(f) Veterans entitled to a distinctive plate shall be entitled to have a distinctive emblem or decal reflecting service in Operation Enduring Freedom or the receipt of the Iraqi Freedom Campaign Ribbon, an Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, a Persian Gulf Campaign Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, or the Prisoner of War Medal.
(g) Under any special recognition or status recognized in this section, a widowed person shall not be compelled to surrender their distinctive plate, emblem or decal unless they remarry, cancel or fail to renew registration. If the deceased person was entitled to recognition under any portion of this section but did not apply for special status under this section, a widowed person may nonetheless apply in the stead of their deceased spouse.
(h) Any special status under this section shall entitle the bearer to only 1 special plate, emblem or decal; provided, however, that such person may, at their option, have the distinctive plate, emblem or decal issued in a form suitable for use on a motorcycle rather than a passenger car.
(i) Any plate to which an individual is entitled under this section shall be issued without fee other than the established registration fee for private passenger motor vehicles and motorcycles. The registrar may provide individuals the option of paying an additional fee. Any funds related to the additional fee generated under this section shall be distributed to the state operated veterans’ homes on an equal basis, to their special account, up to $500,000 for each home. Any excess fee over $500,000 for each state-operated veterans’ home shall be placed in the special trust fund subject to the control of the secretary of veterans’ services.
SECTION 36. Section 7I of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 8, after the word “vehicles” the following words:- and vehicles operated by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
SECTION 37. Section 1 of chapter 90F, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 65, the words “(49 App. USC 1801) et seq” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (49 USC 5101 et seq.)
SECTION 38. Paragraph (C) of section 4 of said chapter 90F, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the words “of from $2,750 to $11,000 inclusive” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- as required under subsection (b)(2) of Appendix B of 49 C.F.R. 386.
SECTION 39. Paragraph (D) of said section 4 of said chapter 90F, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 22 and 23, the words “of not more than $10,000” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- as required under subsection (b)(3) of Appendix B of 49 C.F.R. 386.
SECTION 40. Subparagraph (3) of paragraph (E1/2) of said section 9 of said chapter 90F, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 67, the words “$1,100 and not more than $2,750” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- as required under subsection (b)(1) of Appendix B of 49 C.F.R. 386.
SECTION 41. Said section 9 of said chapter 90F, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (D) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
(D) Any person shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life for (i) using a commercial motor vehicle or a motor vehicle in the commission of any felony involving the manufacture, distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense a controlled substance; or (ii) using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of any felony involving trafficking in persons or organs as prohibited by sections 50, 51 or 53 of chapter 265 or any felony involving an act or practice of severe forms of trafficking in persons, as defined in 22 U.S.C. 7102(11).
SECTION 42. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 245. (a) For the purposes of this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions set forth under section 1 of chapter 94C shall apply.
(b) At the commissioner’s discretion, a pharmacy operated by the department may distribute controlled substances to health care providers and entities legally authorized to administer, possess, distribute, deliver, or dispense controlled substances, provided such controlled substances are (i) related to the provision of reproductive health care services, as defined in section 11I 1/2 of chapter 12; or (ii) to ensure access to controlled substances needed to provide treatment in the event of a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 2A of chapter 17.
(c) The department may exercise the authority granted in this section for the benefit of any person, whether or not the person is under the custody, care, or supervision of an agency of the commonwealth.
(d) The department shall exercise the authority granted in this section in accordance with applicable laws including, but not limited to, applicable controlled substances registration requirements; provided, however, that the department shall be exempt from obtaining a pharmacy license in accordance with section 39 of chapter 112.
SECTION 43. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 6 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 6. There shall be a MassHealth program advisory committee to advise the executive office on matters of concern related to policy development and matters related to effective program administration. The assistant secretary for MassHealth or their designee shall select members for the advisory committee on a rotating and continuous basis in such numbers and for such terms as the executive office deems appropriate.
(a) The MassHealth program advisory committee shall include representation of at least 1 member from each of the following categories: (i) members of the MassHealth member advisory committee; (ii) state or local consumer group or other community-based organization that represents the interests of, or provides direct service to, MassHealth beneficiaries; (iii) clinical provider or administrator who is familiar with the health and social needs of MassHealth beneficiaries and with the resources available and required for their care. This includes providers or administrators of primary care, specialty care, and long-term care; (iv) as applicable, Medicaid participating managed care entities, including but not limited to managed care organizations, accountable care partnership plans, primary care accountable care organizations, one care plans, senior care options plans, the behavioral health vendor, or the primary care clinician plan; and (v) another state agency that serves MassHealth beneficiaries, to serve as ex-officio, non-voting members.
(b) The executive office shall provide the committee with such staff and technical assistance as is necessary to enable the committee to make effective recommendations, and such financial arrangements as are necessary to make possible the participation of recipient members.
(c) The office of Medicaid shall make a report to the committee on health care financing and to house and senate committees on ways and means no later than October 1 of each year on the previous state fiscal year's activities of the MassHealth program advisory committee. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the names and titles of committee members, dates of committee meetings, agendas and minutes or notes from such meetings, and any correspondence, memorandum, recommendations or other product of the committee's work. MassHealth member advisory committee members will have the option to omit their names from the report.
SECTION 44. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 9F and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 9F. (a) The secretary of health and human services may establish, subject to appropriation, all required federal approvals and agreements and the availability of federal financial participation, a health care program for dual eligible individuals, aged 21 to 64 at the time of enrollment, who are dually eligible for benefits under MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth and Medicare under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and do not have any additional comprehensive health coverage. Under the program, the executive office may contract to provide integrated, comprehensive Medicaid and Medicare services, including medical, behavioral health and long-term support services for a capitated payment.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of health and human services may review a request for financial solvency certification by a care delivery organization based in the commonwealth applying to serve as a Medicare plan caring for residents who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Upon determination that appropriate financial standards, which may be the standards already in place for organizations with contracts pursuant to this section, have been met, the secretary shall so certify to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. Said secretary may require the requesting organization to pay a reasonable certification fee.
(c) As used in this subsection, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
“Dual eligible”, or “dually eligible person”, any person age 21 or older and under age 65 at the time of enrollment in a dual eligible managed care organization who is enrolled in both Medicare and MassHealth.
“Dual eligible managed care organization”, a comprehensive network of medical, health care and long-term services and supports providers that integrates all components of care, either directly or through subcontracts and has been contracted with by the executive office to provide services to dually eligible individuals under this section.
Members of the MassHealth managed care program integrating care for dual eligible persons shall be provided an independent community care coordinator by the dual eligible managed care organization, who shall be a participant in the member's care team. The community care coordinator shall assist in the development of a long-term support and services care plan. The community care coordinator shall:
(i) participate in initial and ongoing assessments of the health and functional status of the member, including determining appropriateness for long-term care support and services, either in the form of institutional or community-based care plans and related service packages necessary to improve or maintain enrollee health and functional status;
(ii) arrange and, with the agreement of the member and the care team, coordinate appropriate institutional and community long-term supports and services, including assistance with the activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, housing, home-delivered meals, transportation and, under specific conditions or circumstances established by the dual eligible managed care organization, authorize a range and amount of community-based services; and
(iii) monitor the appropriate provision and functional outcomes of community long-term care services, according to the service plan as deemed appropriate by the member and the care team; and track member satisfaction and the appropriate provision and functional outcomes of community long-term care services, according to the service plan as deemed appropriate by the member and the care team.
(d) The dual eligible managed care organization shall not have a direct or indirect financial ownership interest in an entity that serves as an independent care coordinator. Providers of institutional or community based long-term services and supports on a compensated basis shall not function as an independent care coordinator; provided, however, that the secretary may grant a waiver of this restriction upon a finding that public necessity and convenience require such a waiver. For the purposes of this section, an organization compensated to provide only evaluation, assessment, coordination, skills training, peer supports and fiscal intermediary services shall not be considered a provider of long term services and supports.
SECTION 45. Section 10H1/2 of said chapter 118E of the General Laws, as inserted by chapter 388 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage for the treatment of Down syndrome through medically necessary speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and, for individuals under the age of 21, applied behavior analysis services.
SECTION 46. Section 64 of said chapter 118E, as most recently amended by section 29 of chapter 342 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out, from the definition of “Center for health information and analysis revenue amount”, the words “, ambulatory surgical centers and non-hospital provider organizations” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and ambulatory surgical centers.
SECTION 47. Said section 64 of said chapter 118E, as most recently amended by section 30 of said chapter 342, is hereby amended by striking out, from the definition of “Health policy commission revenue amount”, the words “, ambulatory surgical centers and non-hospital provider organizations” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and ambulatory surgical centers.
SECTION 48. Said chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 83. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services may directly pay other state agencies, including county correctional facilities and department of corrections facilities operated by such state agencies, for any claims related to Medicaid, under the provisions of Title XIX of the Social Security Act; the children’s health insurance program, under the provisions of Title XXI of the Social Security Act; health safety net, under the provisions of sections 64 through 69 of chapter 118E; children’s medical security plan, under the provisions of section 10F of chapter 118E; and other similar healthcare programs provided that such state agencies meet all applicable conditions of participation in these programs, as determined by the executive office of health and human services in its sole discretion.
SECTION 49. Section 29 of chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the figure “$25,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $50,000.
SECTION 50. Section 44A of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 61, 80, 84 and 100, the figure “$50,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $75,000.
SECTION 51. Said section 44A of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 101 and 112, the figure “$150,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $250,000.
SECTION 52. Section 44F of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 42, the figure “$25,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $50,000.
SECTION 53. Subsection (d) of section 81 of chapter 179 of the acts of 2022, as amended by chapter 239 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the words “environmental justice communities” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- environmental justice populations.
SECTION 54. Said subsection (d) of said section 81 of said chapter 179 is hereby amended by striking out paragraphs (5) and (6) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-
(5) Not later than 12 months after the completion of each assessment, each electric distribution company may submit to the department of public utilities its plan and an application to revise its rates to account for the additional distribution infrastructure included in the plan pursuant to paragraph (4). The application shall include: (i) testimony that explains how the application is consistent with the plan pursuant to paragraph (4); (ii) an explanation of the need for each distribution infrastructure investment; (iii) supporting documentation demonstrating that the actual or estimated costs for each distribution infrastructure investment are reasonable; and (iv) the actual or estimated in-service date of the distribution infrastructure investment. Such application shall be preliminarily approved by the department of public utilities not later than 6 months after submission so long as the requested rate revision is consistent with the department's practices and incremental costs are not otherwise accounted for in the electric distribution company's existing rates. The department's review of such application shall not be construed as a prudence review. The electric distribution company's application shall be deemed approved if the department does not act within 6 months.
(6) The department of public utilities shall review the additional distribution infrastructure investments planned pursuant to paragraph (4) during the next general rate case of the electric distribution company. Each electric distribution company shall be entitled to cost recovery of such infrastructure investments where the electric distribution company demonstrates: (i) how it evaluated advanced transmission technologies, energy storage, other infrastructure investments and alternatives other than infrastructure investments to satisfy projected demand; (ii) that the proposed infrastructure investments were cost effective compared with the alternatives, provide net benefits for customers and meet the criteria enumerated in clauses (i) to (vi), inclusive, of subsection (a) of said section 92B of said chapter 164; and (iii) that the expenses are incremental to the costs already recovered through base distribution rates or recovered through reconciling mechanisms. The department may as necessary, require customers to be credited for any change in rates made pursuant to paragraph (5) with interest.
SECTION 55. Section 82 of said chapter 179, as amended by chapter 239 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended, in line 1801, by striking the figure “2025” and inserting place thereof:- “2027”
SECTION 56. Item 0910-0210 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by adding the following clause:- ; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds may be collected in the prior fiscal year for service programs or activities delivered during the next fiscal year; and provided further, that any unspent balance at the close of the current fiscal year up to the ceiling shall remain in the account and may be expended for the item in the following fiscal year.
SECTION 57. Item 4513-1012 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$27,400,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $27,800,000.
SECTION 58. Item 4590-0912 of said section 2 of said chapter 140 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$27,995,640”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $29,195,640.
SECTION 59. Item 8100-0006 of said section 2 of said chapter 140 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$37,250,000”, both times it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $45,000,000.
SECTION 60. Item 9110-1630 of said section 2 of said chapter 140 is hereby amended by inserting the following words:- and provided further, that the secretary of the executive office of aging and independence may transfer funds between items 9110-1630 and 9110-0600.
SECTION 61. Item 1595-1068 of section 2E of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, as amended by section 128 of chapter 248 of the acts of 2024, is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$837,827,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $972,235,420.
SECTION 62. Said item 1595-1068 of said section 2E of said chapter 140, as amended by section 127 of said chapter 248, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$444,250,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $539,980,000.
SECTION 63. Section 202 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “February 1” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- October 15.
SECTION 64. Section 217 of said chapter 140 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2025” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2026.
SECTION 65. Section 126 of chapter 150 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “June 30” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31.
SECTION 66. Section 127 of said chapter 150 is hereby amended by striking out the words “June 30” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31.
SECTION 67. Section 128 of said chapter 150 is hereby amended by striking out the words “June 30” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31.
SECTION 68. Section 150 of chapter 178 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “January 1,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31.
SECTION 69. Section 152 of chapter 178 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2024” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2025.
SECTION 70. Section 5 of chapter 214 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “June 1” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- November 15.
SECTION 71. Section 293 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out in the first sentence, each time they appear, the words “and officers”.
SECTION 72. Section 304 of said chapter 238 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the word “agriculture” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- public health.
SECTION 73. Said section 304 of said chapter 238 of the acts of 2024 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “2025” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2026.
SECTION 74. Section 65 of chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “to fourth paragraphs, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph.
SECTION 75. Said chapter 239 is hereby amended by inserting after section 65 the following section:-
SECTION 65A. Said section 69J of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words “plans for expansion and construction of the applicant's new facilities are consistent with current health, environmental protection, and resource use and development policies as adopted by the commonwealth; and are consistent with the policies stated in section sixty-nine H to provide a necessary energy supply for the commonwealth with a minimum impact on the environment at lowest possible cost;” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “and are consistent with the policies stated in section 69H”.
SECTION 76. Said chapter 239 is hereby amended by inserting after section 68 the following section:-
SECTION 68A. The fifth paragraph of said section 69J1/4 of said chapter 164, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out clause (iii).
SECTION 77. Paragraph (v) of subsection (b) of section 118 of chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “the generation facility” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the energy storage system”.
SECTION 78. Subsection (e) of section 118 of chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “the department of public utilities”.
SECTION 79. Section 129 of chapter 239 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “133” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 132.
SECTION 80. Said section 129 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the word “March” and inserting place thereof the following word:- May.
SECTION 81. Section 130 of said chapter 239 hereby amended by striking out the word “March” and inserting place thereof the following word:- May.
SECTION 82. Section 131 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the word “March” and inserting place thereof the following word:- May.
SECTION 83. Section 132 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the words “March” and inserting place thereof the following words:- May.
SECTION 84. Section 133 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the word “March” and inserting place thereof the following word:- May.
SECTION 85. Section 139 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the words “64 to 68,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 60 to 62, inclusive, 64 to 69.
SECTION 86. Section 140 of said chapter 239 is hereby amended by striking out the word “March” and inserting place thereof the following word:- May.
SECTION 87. Item 3000-1142 of section 2A of chapter 248 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the word “between” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- from this item to.
SECTION 88. Sections 5, 21 and 38 of chapter 342 of the acts of 2024 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 89. Sections 14, 38 and 81 of chapter 343 of the acts of 2024 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 90. Chapter 390 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the words “public way within 3 miles of the vessel’s waterfront location of origin in the town of Barnstable and which may pass over the roadways of the town of Yarmouth” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- locally owned or controlled public way within 3 miles of the vessel’s waterfront location of origin in the town of Barnstable and which may pass over the locally owned or controlled roadways of the town of Yarmouth; provided, however, that said vessel shall be trucked by a professional licensed boat hauler. For the purposes of this section, public ways shall not include roadways owned or within the control of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
SECTION 91. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, sections 80, 88, 92 to 95, inclusive, and 97 to 99, inclusive, of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 shall only apply to land purchased or taken under a tax title on or after November 1, 2024.
SECTION 92. Notwithstanding sections 185A to 185E, inclusive, of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as amended by sections 249 and 250 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024, no person shall be required to be licensed to engage in the business of selling tickets or the business of reselling or facilitating a mechanism for 2 or more parties to participate in the resale of any ticket of admission under said section 185A of said chapter 140 until January 1, 2026.
SECTION 93. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all funds currently in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Inspector General Expendable Trust shall be transferred by the Comptroller to the Office of the Inspector General Recovery Fund, established under section 2KKKKKK of chapter 29 of the General Laws not later than 90 days from the effective date of this act.
SECTION 94. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any unexpended balances, not to exceed a total of $40,000,000, in items 4000-0700 and 4000-1426 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 shall not revert to the General Fund until September 1, 2025 and may be expended by the executive office of health and human services to pay for services enumerated in said items 4000-0700 and 4000-1426 provided during fiscal year 2025.
SECTION 95. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2025, the secretary of health and human services, with the written approval of the secretary of administration and finance, may authorize transfers of surplus among items 4000-0320, 4000-0430, 4000-0500, 4000-0601, 4000-0641, 4000-0700, 4000-0875, 4000-0880, 4000-0885, 4000-0940, 4000-0950, 4000-0990, 4000-1400, 4000-1420 and 4000-1426.
SECTION 96. Notwithstanding the terms of any prior appropriation or any other general or special law to the contrary, any unexpended funds appropriated to and held by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation shall be transferred to and be expended by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency to ensure post-merger continuity of the agency’s programs.
SECTION 97. The salary adjustments and other economic benefits authorized by the following collective bargaining agreements shall be effective for the purposes of section 7 of chapter 150E of the General Laws:
(1) the agreement between the Sheriff of Bristol County and the National Correctional Employees' Union, Local 103, K-9 Unit, Unit SA7, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(2) the agreement between the Board of Trustees of the University of Massachusetts and Service Employees International Union, Local 888, Unit L95, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(3) the agreement between the Secretary of the Commonwealth and Service Employees International Union, Local 888 AFL/CIO on behalf of certain employees of the Suffolk Registry of Deeds, Unit SC2, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(4) the agreement between the Sheriff of Bristol County and the National Correctional Employees' Union, Local 103 K-9 Unit, Unit SA7, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(5) the agreement between the Sheriff of Plymouth County and the New England Police Benevolent Association (NEPBA), Local 580 (BCI), Unit SP3, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(6) the agreement between the Sheriff of Norfolk County and the National Association of Government Employees, RI Local 202, Unit SN1, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(7) the agreement between the Sheriff of Norfolk County and the County Correctional Officers Association, NEPBA Local 570, Unit SN3, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(8) the agreement between the Board of Higher Education and the Association of Professional Administrators, MTA/NEA, Unit APA, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(9) the agreement between the Sheriff of Norfolk County and the County Correctional Officers Association, NEPBA Local 575, Unit SN2, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(10) the agreement between the Sheriff of Hampshire County and the Hampshire Sheriff's Office Treatment Association (SOTA), Unit SH6, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(11) the agreement between the Sheriff of Hampshire County and the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction Supervisory Correctional Officers, Unit SH8, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027;
(12) the agreement between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the New England Police Benevolent Association, Unit 4A, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027; and
(13) the agreement between the Sheriff of Barnstable County and NAGE-IBCO, Local 217, Unit S3B, effective from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
SECTION 98. Sections 4 and 7 of this act shall take effect for the budgets for the health policy commission and the center for health information and analysis, respectively, beginning in fiscal year 2027; provided, however, that for fiscal year 2027, the first preliminary payments for the pharmaceutical manufacturer assessment and the pharmacy benefits manager assessment shall be due to the health policy commission and the center for health information and analysis, respectively, on October 1, 2026, in an amount equal to 1/2 of the initial year’s total assessment.
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