Change TAFDC Job Search and Work Requirements

SECTION 95. Subsection (j) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 is hereby amended by striking out the first and second paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following two paragraphs:-
     The department shall administer a program, to be known as the work program, for recipients that are not exempt under subsection (e). As a condition of eligibility through the first 60 days of receipt of assistance as such non-exempt recipient, the department may require that an applicant or recipient participate in structured job search. After the 60-day period said program shall require that each recipient work 20 hours per week. For recipients in a two-parent family, said program shall require a combined total of 40 hours, or 35 hours if one of the parents is exempt under subsection (e). Said work requirement may be met by working in a job for which compensation is paid; by working in a supported work position as defined by the department; by working full time in the full employment program established in subsection (l); by participating in community service pursuant to the following provisions; or, at the discretion of the department, by participating in structured job search in lieu of some or all of the work requirement. At the discretion of the commissioner, recipients subject to said work requirement who fail to meet said requirement shall not receive assistance.
     Recipient families that meet the work hour requirements stated above in a job for which compensation is paid shall be eligible for the earnings disregard provided pursuant to subsections (d) and (g), provided that said family is not receiving an extension under subsection (f). The commonwealth shall make payments for child care services to families in which a parent or parents or other grantee relative is working and needs child care services in order to work or participate in any of the education or training or community service activities approved pursuant to subsections (h) or (k) of this section. If a recipient in the work program has not obtained employment, or has a gross income from employment or other sources, including child support, that is less than the applicable payment standard for a family of the same size, the recipient shall be required to participate for 20 hours per week in a community service program in return for the applicable payment standard for a family of the same size. Recipients in a two-parent family shall be required to participate a combined total of 40 hours per week in a community service program, or 35 hours if one of the parents is exempt under subsection (e). In the case of a recipient who has obtained employment that does not meet the hourly requirements, the community service requirement shall be the difference between the applicable work requirement and the amount of time the recipient is employed each week; said recipient shall receive the difference between the applicable payment standard and the recipient's income from other employment. The provisions of this subsection shall supersede any conflicting provisions in this act.

Increase TAFDC Community Service Requirement for Two-Parent Families

SECTION 96. Subsection (k) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- Subject to appropriation, a community service program is hereby established as a program in which recipients may be offered the opportunity to volunteer for 20 hours, or 40 hours for two-parent families, or 35 hours for two-parent families if one of the parents is exempt under subsection (e), per week or be mandated to participate pursuant to the provisions of subsection (j) or when participation is authorized as a sanction pursuant to the provisions of this section.

Department of Environmental Protection Grant Indirect Costs

SECTION 97. Section 621 of chapter 151 of the acts of 1996 is hereby repealed.

Staggering the Expiration Date of Firearms Identification Cards

SECTION 98. Section 73 of chapter 180 of the acts of 1998, as amended by section 11 of chapter 358 of the acts of 1998, is hereby further amended by inserting after the second sentence the following sentence:- Firearm identification cards issued or renewed between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000, shall expire as follows: cards issued or renewed in July, August, or September 1999 shall expire on the issuance or renewal date in 2003 and every four years thereafter; cards issued in October, November, or December 1999 shall expire on the issuance or renewal date in 2004 and every four years thereafter; cards issued in January, February, or March 2000 shall expire on the issuance or renewal date in 2005 and every four years thereafter; and cards issued or renewed in April, May, or June 2000 shall expire on the issuance or renewal date in 2006 and every four years thereafter.

Non-Discrimination Policy

SECTION 99. All sums appropriated under the provisions of this act shall be expended in a manner reflecting and encouraging a policy of non-discrimination and equal employment and contracting opportunity for members of minority groups, women, and handicapped persons. All officials and employees of any department, board, commission, or institution of the commonwealth receiving monies under this act shall take affirmative steps to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and contracting in all aspects of state government. Each department, board, commission, or institution, in spending appropriated sums and discharging its statutory responsibilities, shall adopt measures to ensure equal employment opportunity in the areas of hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, layoff, termination, rates of compensation, in-service or apprenticeship training programs, and all terms and conditions of employment. Each department, board, commission, or institution, in spending appropriated sums and discharging its statutory responsibilities, shall adopt measures to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of state contracting. Such affirmative action program shall include efforts required to remedy the effects of present and past discriminatory patterns and practices, and any action necessary to guarantee equal opportunity for members of minority groups, women, and handicapped persons. The secretary of administration and finance, through the human resource division's office of affirmative action, shall conduct an ongoing review of affirmative action steps taken by various departments, boards, commissions, or institutions, to determine whether such entities are complying with the intent of this section. Whenever such noncompliance is determined by the secretary through the personnel administrator, the personnel administrator shall hold a public hearing on the matter and report his resulting recommendations to the head of the particular department, board, commission, or institution, to the secretary, to the governor, and to the Massachusetts commission against discrimination.

Revenue Optimization Program

SECTION 100. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, except for sections 52 to 55, inclusive, of chapter 7 of the General Laws, the secretary of administration and finance shall in fiscal year 2001 identify and pursue projects to optimize non-tax revenue management and collections by the commonwealth. The secretary or his designee is authorized to enter into contracts with private vendors and to enter into interdepartmental service agreements with departments to identify and pursue said projects. Private vendors shall be compensated from non-tax revenues collected by such projects in excess of the non-tax revenues established by said contracts as the minimum to be collected by each such project. For the purposes of this section, such payments to vendors for services performed shall be known as "vendor participation payments," amounts allocated from item 1599-0033 of section 2 to participating departments pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be known as "department incentive payments," and non-tax revenue collected pursuant to this section, after deduction of vendor participation payments, department incentive payments, and other charges directed to the Maximization Fund established by section 2R of chapter 29 of the General Laws, shall be known as "net additional revenue." For the purposes of this section, the terms "department" or "participating department" shall mean any department, agency, board, commission, office, or institution under the executive control of the governor or other constitutional officer and determined by the secretary to be participating in the revenue optimization projects authorized by this section.
     A vendor shall be compensated only if (1) the revenue achieved for each specific revenue source is new revenue, provided, that new revenue shall be defined as revenue in addition to revenue collected during the base period for each revenue source; and (2) in the event of revenue sources which are caseload-driven federal reimbursements, so called, the ratio of that revenue source to the reimbursable expenditure has exceeded the highest such ratio during the base period.
     A department shall receive department incentive payments pursuant to this section and to item 1599-0033 of section 2 only if both (1) the collection of a fee or any other non-tax revenue during fiscal year 2001 is greater than the highest amount of revenue collected from said fee or other non-tax revenue during the base period; and (2) the total revenue collected by such department in fiscal year 2001 is in excess of the amounts projected in section 1B for each department.
     For the purposes of this section, the term "base period" shall refer to the fiscal years beginning on July 1, 1994, and ending on June 30, 2000. Revenues which are attributable to a new fee or a newly reimbursable service or clientele shall be considered to have a base period revenue level of zero. The commonwealth shall retain all rights in software programs developed pursuant to any contract executed under this section.
     The comptroller shall deposit in the Maximization Fund all monies collected pursuant to the provisions of this section. The comptroller may allocate from said fund, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, department incentive awards up to the amount of the appropriation contained in item 1599-0033 of section 2 to participating departments pursuant to the following calculations: a) an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 when the net additional revenue accumulates to $5,000,000, or b) an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 when the net additional revenue accumulates to $10,000,000, or c) an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 when the net additional revenue accumulates to $15,000,000, or d) an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 when the net additional revenue accumulates to an amount equal to or greater than $20,000,000. Eighty-five per cent of said allocations shall be distributed to participating departments in proportion to the amount of revenues collected by each individual department as a per cent of the total amount of revenues collected under the provisions of this section. The remaining 15 per cent shall be distributed to participating departments at the discretion of said secretary, regardless of the amount of revenues collected by each individual department. The comptroller shall transfer to the General Fund at the close of the fiscal year any balance remaining in the Maximization Fund after providing for said allocations, vendor participation payments, and other charges to said Maximization Fund; provided, however, that no expenditure shall be made from said Maximization Fund that would cause said fund to be in deficit at the close of the fiscal year. Departments receiving allocations pursuant to said item 1599-0033 may, subject to the provisions of this section, expend such funds without further appropriation after obtaining the written approval of said secretary or his designee of a plan detailing said proposed expenditures, allocations, and reallocations, and the filing of such approved plan with the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than ten days in advance of any such allocation or reallocation. All expenditures made pursuant to the provisions of this section and said item 1599-0033 shall be for one-time expenses which shall not recur in fiscal year 2002 or a subsequent fiscal year. Funds appropriated for expenditure by the provisions of this section and said item 1599-0033 shall not be used to supplant purposes authorized in any other item of appropriation in section 2, or appropriated in any supplemental appropriation act enacted in fiscal year 2001 or a subsequent fiscal year. Any unexpended balance from said allocations at the end of each fiscal year shall revert to the General Fund except to the extent that said approved spending plan for such an allocation includes multi-year expenditures.
     The comptroller shall report, not later than January 31 of each year, to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the results and operations of the revenue optimization projects authorized by this section, for the six-month period ending the preceding month. Such information shall detail, by each vendor, project, and department: the amount of vendor participation payments paid to each vendor, the net additional revenue retained by the commonwealth, the amounts allocated or reallocated to each such participating department pursuant to said item 1599-0033 and this section, and the estimated receipts, payments, and allocations for the fiscal year.
     The comptroller shall report to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than July 31 of each year, the preceding information for the prior fiscal year, the total of all vendor participation payments made to each vendor, and the net additional revenue collected by each project over the duration of the project. On or before July 31 of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means a plan approved by the secretary of administration and finance detailing, by executive office and department, the net additional revenue estimated to be collected under the provisions of this section in the fiscal year. The provisions of this section shall remain in effect until July 1, 2002.

Cost Avoidance Projects

SECTION 101. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may enter into contracts with private vendors to identify and pursue cost avoidance opportunities for programs of the commonwealth and to enter into interdepartmental service agreements with state agencies, as applicable, for said purpose; provided, however, that payments to private vendors on account of such cost avoidance projects shall be made only from such actual cost savings as have been certified in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means by the comptroller and the budget director as attributable to such cost avoidance projects. The comptroller may establish such procedures, in consultation with the budget director and the affected departments, as he deems appropriate and necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to allow the comptroller or the budget director to establish any accounts without prior statutory approval. The budget director shall report on a quarterly basis to the house and senate committees on ways and means the status of all cost avoidance projects which are undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this section. The comptroller shall report on said projects as a part of his annual report pursuant to section 12 of chapter 7A of the General Laws.

Suggestion Awards

SECTION 102. The suggestion awards board, established pursuant to section 31A of chapter 7 of the General Laws, may make cash awards, pursuant to the provisions of said section 31A and according to the board's published rules and regulations governing the selection process and criteria, to employees of the commonwealth who are instrumental in identifying or implementing ideas which reduce costs or increase revenues for the commonwealth. Such awards may be paid, in a manner to be approved by the secretary of administration and finance, from the operating appropriations of each agency which realizes reduced costs, or from money allocated from the Maximization Fund to each agency which realizes increased revenues, as a result of the employee's suggestions or efforts. The amount of any such award shall equal not more than 10 percent of the annual reduced costs or increased revenues generated by the employee's suggestion, up to a maximum of $5,000 for any one suggestion, unless a larger award is approved by the general court. All such awards shall be reported quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means, detailing the recipient of the award, the recipient's department and title, the amount of the award, the reason for the award, and the amount of money saved or realized by the commonwealth. No person who is not a state employee shall be eligible to receive any such award. The provisions of this section shall remain in effect until June 30, 2002.

Entitlement Disclaimer

SECTION 103. No section or item of appropriation, nor any portion thereof, set forth in this act is intended to give, and shall not be construed as giving, rise to any enforceable right or entitlement not otherwise provided by state regulation or general or special law.

Workers' Compensation Chargeback

SECTION 104. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of administration and finance shall charge state agencies in fiscal year 2001 as hereinafter provided for workers' compensation costs, including related administrative expenses, incurred on behalf of the employees of said agencies. Administrative expenses shall be allocated based on each agency's per cent of total workers' compensation benefits paid in fiscal year 2000. The personnel administrator shall administer said charges on behalf of said secretary, and may establish such rules and procedures as he deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
     Within 14 days of the enactment of this act, the personnel administrator shall (1) notify agencies regarding the chargeback methodology to be used in fiscal year 2001, (2) notify agencies of the amount of their estimated worker's compensation charges for said fiscal year, and (3) require agencies to encumber funds in an amount sufficient to meet said estimated charges. Said estimated charges for each agency in said fiscal year shall be not less than the amount of the actual workers' compensation costs, including related administrative expenses, incurred by each such agency in fiscal year 2000, and may include such additional amounts as are deemed necessary under regulations promulgated pursuant to this section. For any agency that fails within 30 days of the enactment of this act to encumber funds sufficient to meet said estimated charges, the comptroller shall so encumber funds on behalf of such agency.
     Not later than the tenth day of each month during fiscal year 2001, the personnel administrator shall (1) determine the amount of the actual worker's compensation costs incurred by each agency in the preceding month, including related administrative expenses, (2) notify each agency of said amounts, (3) charge said amounts to each agency's accounts as estimates of the costs to be incurred in the current month, and (4) transfer said amounts to item 1750-0105 of section 2.
     The personnel administrator is hereby authorized to expend in fiscal year 2001 an amount not to exceed $46,495,000 from said item 1750-0105 for hospital, physician, benefit, and other costs related to workers' compensation for employees of state agencies, including administrative expenses; provided, that an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 of said $46,495,000 may be expended for such costs incurred in fiscal year 2000.

Information Technology Chargeback

SECTION 105. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of administration and finance shall charge state agencies in fiscal year 2001 as hereinafter provided for the following goods and services provided by the information technology division, as well as administrative expenses related thereto: computer resources and services, including the purchase, lease, or rental of telecommunications lines, services, and equipment that are billed centrally to the commonwealth; and supplies, postage, and related equipment provided pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of chapter 30 of the General Laws. The chief information officer shall administer said charges on behalf of said secretary, and may establish such regulations, procedures, and schedules of fees as he deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
     Within 14 days of the enactment of this act, the chief information officer shall (1) notify agencies regarding the chargeback methodology to be used in fiscal year 2001, (2) notify agencies of the amount of their estimated charges for said goods and services, including related administrative expenses, for said fiscal year, and (3) require said agencies to encumber funds in an amount sufficient to meet said estimated charges. For any agency that fails within 30 days of the enactment of this act to encumber funds sufficient to meet said estimated charges, the comptroller shall so encumber funds on behalf of such agency.
     Not later than the tenth day of each month during fiscal year 2001, the chief information officer shall (1) determine the amount of actual costs for said goods and services incurred by each agency in the preceding month, including related administrative expenses, (2) notify each agency of said amounts, (3) charge said amounts to each agency's accounts as estimates of the costs to be incurred in the current month, and (4) transfer said amounts to item 1790-0200 of section 2 insofar as they pertain to said computer resources and services, and to item 1790-0400 of section 2 insofar as they pertain to said supplies, postage, and related equipment.
     The chief information officer is hereby authorized to expend in fiscal year 2001 an amount not to exceed $18,100,000 from said item 1790-0200 for the cost of computer resources and services provided to agencies by the information technology division, including the purchase, lease, or rental of telecommunications lines, services, and equipment that are billed centrally to the commonwealth, as well as related administrative expenses, in accordance with policies, procedures, and rates approved by the secretary of administration and finance; provided, that an amount not to exceed $500,000 of said $18,100,000 may be expended for such costs incurred in fiscal year 2000; and provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, charges for the cost of computer resources and services provided by the information technology division for the design, development, and production of reports and information required for analysis related to appropriation bills and other legislation shall not be charged to the fiscal affairs division, the house of representatives, the senate, or any joint legislative account in fiscal year 2001.
     The chief information officer is hereby authorized to expend in fiscal year 2001 an amount not to exceed $2,074,398 from said item 1790-0400 for the cost of supplies, postage, and related equipment provided pursuant to the provisions of section 51 of chapter 30 of the General Laws, as well as related administrative expenses, in accordance with policies, procedures, and rates approved by the secretary of administration and finance; provided, that an amount not to exceed $50,000 of said $2,074,398 may be expended for such costs incurred in fiscal year 2000.

BSOB Office Space Rental Chargeback

SECTION 106. The bureau of state office buildings shall assess to state agencies a charge for space occupied in the John W. McCormack state office building, the Springfield state office building, the Pittsfield state office building, the Erich Lindemann building, and the Charles F. Hurley building, said charge to be based on rental rates for each building established by the executive office for administration and finance. Said charge shall be credited to item 1102-3335 of section 2.

Information Technology Division's Project Oversight Authority

SECTION 107. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, any planned information technology development project or purchase by any agency under the authority of the governor for which the total projected cost, including the cost of any related hardware and regardless of fiscal year or source of funds, exceeds $200,000 shall be reviewed and approved by the chief information officer before such agency may obligate funds for such project or purchase. The chief information officer may establish such rules and procedures as he deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

Income Verification Requirement

SECTION 108. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, all departments that administer programs that include applicants' earned or unearned income as eligibility criteria may collect, from all applicants to said programs, and verify, through electronic data exchanges, any data on earned or unearned income that is required to determine eligibility for said programs. Said departments shall develop plans including, but not limited to, information on any necessary changes to said programs' application processes or regulations and any administrative assistance necessary to implement said changes and said electronic data exchanges for said programs. Said departments shall submit said plans to the secretary of administration and finance, and those departments within executive offices shall also submit said plans to the secretaries of their executive offices, not later than 90 days after the enactment of this act. Said departments, in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance, and with the secretaries of their executive offices for those departments within executive offices, shall determine the necessary steps and the appropriate timeframes for implementing said plans.

Funding for the Massachusetts Clean Elections Fund

SECTION 109. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, not later than 10 days after the enactment of this act the comptroller shall transfer $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the Massachusetts Clean Elections Fund, established by section 42 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, for advance funding of the requirements established pursuant to chapter 55A of the General Laws for public financing of elections for constitutional officers, councilors, and members of the general court; provided, that said fund shall not be available for appropriation until fiscal year 2002.

Asbestos Cost Recovery Fund

SECTION 110. There is hereby established on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Asbestos Cost Recovery Fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, all sums awarded or received by the commonwealth, after the payment of fees and expenses, as a result of settlement, trial, or judgment from Suffolk Superior Court No. 90-3791-A, Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Owens Corning Fiberglass, et al., and other actions brought to recover damages relating to asbestos-containing materials in buildings owned or operated by the commonwealth, or received as dividend payments by the commonwealth on account of the bankruptcy of any manufacturer, seller, or distributor of asbestos-containing materials in buildings owned or operated by the commonwealth, shall be segregated and deemed to be held in said fund. The division of capital asset management and maintenance shall develop a plan for the orderly expenditure of such sums as are received by the Asbestos Cost Recovery Fund for the purposes of encapsulation, removal of asbestos, and costs related thereto. The plan shall contain provisions for emergencies, the short-term and long-term control of asbestos in buildings owned or operated by the commonwealth, and the removal and disposition of asbestos-containing materials located in such buildings. Any funds deposited as described above may be expended by said division, subject to appropriation, consistent with the purposes of this section.

Initial Gross Payment to Qualifying Acute Care Hospitals

SECTION 111. The comptroller shall transfer $30,000,000 from the General Fund to the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 118G of the General Laws, for the purpose of making initial gross payments to qualifying acute care hospitals for the hospital fiscal year beginning October 1, 2000; provided, that said payments shall be made to hospitals prior to, and in anticipation of, the payment by hospitals of their gross liability to said pool; and provided further, that the comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to transfer from said pool to the General Fund not later than June 30, 2001, the amount of the transfer authorized herein and any allocation thereof as certified by the commissioner of the division of health care finance and policy.

Transfer to the Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund

SECTION 112. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall transfer, without further appropriation, not later than June 30, 2001, $36,952,082 from the General Fund to the Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund established by section 2FF of chapter 29 of the General Laws.

TANF Fund Split Adjustments

SECTION 113. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may adjust the percentage of expenditures charged to the Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund in items 4130-0023, 4130-1000, 4130-3200, 4130-3300, 4130-3800, 4130-3900, 4400-1000, 4401-1000, 4401-1001, 4403-2000, 4403-2110, 4403-2120, 4513-1000, and 4530-9000 of section 2 by not more than 5 per cent above or below the percentages included in said items, for the purpose of meeting federal maintenance of effort requirements consistent with the requirements of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, so called, and chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, as amended. Said adjustments shall be based upon certification by the department of transitional assistance that said adjustments reflect the appropriate distribution of actual charges; provided, that said adjustments shall be subject to the approval of the secretary of administration and finance.

Child Care Fund Split Adjustments

SECTION 114. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may adjust the percentage of expenditures charged to the Child Care Fund in items 4130-3200, 4130-3300, and 4130-3600 of section 2 by not more than 5 per cent above or below the percentages included in said items, for the purpose of meeting federal maintenance of effort requirements. Said adjustments shall be based upon certification by the department of children, families, and learning that said adjustments reflect the appropriate distribution of actual charges; provided, that said adjustments shall be subject to the approval of the secretary of administration and finance.

Social Services Program Fund Split Adjustments

SECTION 115. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may adjust the percentage of expenditures charged to the Social Services Program Fund in items 4130-3600, 4800-0015, 4800-0031, 4800-0041, 4800-1100, and 4800-1400 of section 2 by not more than 5 per cent above or below the percentages included in said items, for the purpose of maximizing federal revenue. Said adjustments shall be based upon certification by the department of social services that said adjustments reflect the appropriate distribution of actual charges; provided, that said adjustments shall be subject to the approval of the secretary of administration and finance.

Transferability of Debt Service Accounts

SECTION 116. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to make payments pursuant to the provisions of section 38C of chapter 29 of the General Laws from items 0699-0015, 0699-9100, and 0699-9101 of section 2 of this act; provided, however, that such payments shall pertain to the bonds, notes, or other obligations authorized to be paid from each item.

Spending Transferability among Debt Service Accounts

SECTION 117. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller is hereby authorized to transfer from the following items in section 2 such amounts as otherwise would be unexpended on June 30, 2001, to those of the following said items which otherwise would have insufficient amounts to meet debt service payments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001; provided, however, that each amount transferred shall be charged to such funds as specified in the item to which such amount is so transferred: 0699-0015, 0699-9100, and 0699-9101.

Sewer Rate Relief

SECTION 118. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, funds in the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund established by section 2Z of chapter 29 of the General Laws shall be available to mitigate sewer rate increases due to debt service obligations created by issuing eligible indebtedness. For the purposes of this section, eligible indebtedness shall mean debt issued on or after January 1, 1990, which has a final date of maturity more than five years after the date of issuance and which is incurred, wholly or in substantial part, to finance or refinance the costs of planning, design, or construction of any water pollution abatement project, or part thereof, required to be constructed to meet the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. sections 1251 et seq., and sections 26 to 53, inclusive, of chapter 21 of the General Laws, or any wastewater collection or transportation project related thereto. Eligible indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness for which the issuer has received assistance provided from state grants. Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, eligible indebtedness shall include indebtedness incurred to finance the metrowest water supply tunnel, so called. Eligible indebtedness shall include indebtedness incurred pursuant to loan agreements under the provisions of chapter 275 of the acts of 1989 which exceeded $50,000,000 by June 30, 1995, and the debt service attributable thereto for any year for purposes of this section shall be the net obligation borne by the issuer after application of any credits, subsidies, or assistance, however characterized, provided under the provisions of the aforementioned laws. No city, town, district, commission, agency, authority, board, or other instrumentality of the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions which is responsible for the ownership or operation of wastewater treatment projects and is authorized to finance all or any part of the cost thereof through the issuance of eligible indebtedness, in this section called an issuer, shall receive relief authorized by this section in excess of 20 per cent of its annual debt service obligations due to eligible indebtedness. The division of local services of the department of revenue, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, shall develop guidelines to certify an issuer's eligible indebtedness and shall create a process to distribute funds equitably to eligible issuers, in order to mitigate extraordinary increases in sewer costs. Funds disbursed in fiscal year 2001 shall be disbursed on or before March 31, 2001. The board, office, or commission responsible for setting sewer charges in each city, town, district, or commission that either receives aid itself or is a member of a regional entity that receives aid pursuant to the provisions of this section shall certify to the division of local services that it has reduced sewer charges to reflect its share of any such aid.

DCAMM - Recovery of Overhead Costs/Project Accounting

SECTION 119. The commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance shall develop a project accounting system for all pool accounts including, but not limited to, asbestos, handicapped access, demolition, fire protection improvement, environmental hazards, air pollution, energy, preventive maintenance, wastewater treatment and toxic waste cleanup. The project accounting system shall be utilized to assess charges for all project-related costs including, but not limited to, administrative overhead. The commissioner may, in accordance with schedules approved by the secretary of administration and finance, employ or reassign employees of the division to such projects as may be required but the salaries and administrative expenses shall be charged to the accounts funding such project. Such charges shall not exceed 2 per cent of the following appropriation accounts: 1102-7881, 1102-7882, 1102-7885, 1102-7886, 1102-7887, 1102-7890, 1102-7893, 1102-7894, 1102-7896, 1102-7897, 1102-8819, 1102-8847, 1102-8869, 1102-8880, 1102-8890, 1102-8891, 1102-8897, 1102-8899, and 1102-9802.

Capital Gains Technical Corrections

SECTION 120. Sections 46, 47, 48, and 49 shall apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 1996.

Veterans' Services Training Programs

SECTION 121. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of veterans' services may establish a training program for veterans' agents and directors of veterans' services in cities and towns of the commonwealth. The purpose of such training program shall be to maximize federal assistance available for veterans and to assure that such agents and directors receive uniform instruction on providing veterans and dependents with advice relative to procurement of state, federal, and local benefits to which they are entitled, including employment, education, health care, retirement, and other veterans' benefits. The subject matter of such training program shall include benefits available under chapter 115 of the General Laws and alternative resources, including those which are partially or wholly subsidized by the federal government, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and Social Security Disability benefits, as well as federal pension and compensation entitlements. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations for said training program. Upon successful participation by such veterans' agents or directors of veterans' services in such training program, the costs of such training program incurred by the several cities and towns shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth on or before November 10 following the fiscal year in which such costs were paid.

Innovative Management of DEM Rinks

SECTION 122. The division of capital asset management and maintenance, on behalf of the department of environmental management, is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions of sections 40E to 40K, inclusive, of chapter 7 of the General Laws, to lease and enter into other agreements, for terms not to exceed 25 years, providing for the use, operation, maintenance, repair, and/or improvement of the following state-owned buildings and facilities together with the land and appurtenances associated therewith: John G. Asiaf Memorial Skating Rink, Brockton; Arthur R. Driscoll Memorial Skating Memorial Skating Rink, Fall River; Veterans Memorial Skating Rink, Franklin; Stephen Hetland Memorial Skating Rink, New Bedford; Jack Armstrong Memorial Skating Rink, Plymouth; Theodore J. Aleixo Skating Rink, Taunton; Veterans Memorial Skating Rink, Haverhill; John J. Janas Memorial Skating Rink, Lowell; Henry Graf, Jr., Skating Rink, Newburyport; James McVann-Louis O'Keefe Memorial Skating Rink, Peabody; Daniel S. Horgan Memorial Skating Rink, Auburn; Gardner Veterans Skating Rink, Gardner; John J. Navin Skating Rink, Marlboro; Charles J. Buffone Rink, Worcester; Greenfield Area Skating Rink, Greenfield; Henry J. Fitzpatrick Skating Rink, Holyoke; Ray Smead Memorial Skating Rink, Springfield; and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink, North Adams. Such leases and other agreements shall be on terms acceptable to the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance after consultation with the commissioner of the department of environmental management, and, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, shall provide for the tenants to manage, operate, improve, repair, and maintain the properties. Any such leases or other arrangements requiring improvements to be made to any buildings may include a description of the initially required improvements and, at a minimum, performance specifications. Any public benefits and the costs of improvements and repairs made to the properties provided by the tenants or their recipients of the properties shall be taken into account as part of the consideration for such leases or other agreements. All consideration received from the leases or other agreements shall be payable to the department of environmental management for deposit into the Second Century Fund established by section 2EE of chapter 29 of the General Laws. The recipients of said properties shall bear all costs deemed necessary or appropriate by the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance for the transaction, including without limitation all costs for legal work, survey, title, and the preparation of plans and specifications.

MWRA Natick Environmental Remediation Reimbursement

SECTION 123. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of chapter 184 of the acts of 1997 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority shall be reimbursed an amount not to exceed $200,000 for its costs and expenses incurred through June 30, 1999, for environmental remediation of the parcel identified in section 1 of said chapter 184; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, 50 per cent of said reimbursement shall be made by the department of environmental management from the Conservation Trust Fund established by section 1 of chapter 132A of the General Laws, and 50 per cent of said reimbursement shall be made by the metropolitan district commission from the Metropolitan Parks Trust Fund established by section 34 of chapter 92 of the General Laws. Said reimbursement shall be based on and contingent upon the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's submission of invoices for said environmental remediation to said department and commission.

Consolidation of Health and Human Services Applications

SECTION 124. The executive office of health and human services shall review the applications for all state and federally funded programs administered by departments under its jurisdiction, in order to determine the usefulness and feasibility of consolidating all or some of said applications into a single common application and the steps necessary to achieve such consolidation. Said executive office's review of applications shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the steps necessary to coordinate and consolidate the data fields common to said applications; an assessment of how the development of a common application can be coordinated with the development of the common client identifier, so called; and an assessment of how the development of a common application can be coordinated with the efforts of said departments to collect and verify income data that are required by section 108 of this act. Said executive office shall submit a report to the secretary of administration and finance summarizing its findings and recommendations not later than 120 days after the enactment of this act.

Senior Care Options Authorization

SECTION 125. The division of medical assistance may implement a program of coordinated care and services for seniors eligible for benefits under Title XIX or Titles XVIII and XIX of the federal Social Security Act; provided, that said program shall deliver and coordinate all services covered under said Titles XVIII and XIX, including home and community-based support services. Enrollment in said program shall be voluntary. Said division or its agent shall inform MassHealth recipients, prior to their enrollment in said program, of the service options available to seniors under chapter 118E of the General Laws. Enrollment in said program shall be offered to all MassHealth recipients 65 years of age or older and disenrollment shall be permitted without cause in any month. The seniors choosing to participate in said program shall be given a choice of physicians and nursing facilities, have the benefit of geriatric support services coordinators employed by or under contract with the aging services access points, and have access to the same complaint and appeal procedures as are available to managed care enrollees under said Titles XVIII and XIX. Services under said program shall be provided in an appropriate setting and in a cost-effective, high-quality manner which is consistent with the purposes of enabling participating seniors to maintain the highest feasible functional level and maintaining aggregate budget neutrality for the program. Said division shall also ensure the confidentiality of medical record information and shall require consumer participation on governing boards of the organizations the division contracts with to deliver services under said program. Said division shall administer the program in collaboration with the federal Health Care Financing Administration and through an interdepartmental service agreement with the executive office of elder affairs in a manner which will ensure that said coordinated care services are provided as directed in this section.

DMA-DPH Coordination of Care for Individuals with HIV/AIDS

SECTION 126. The division of medical assistance and the department of public health shall coordinate services provided to individuals with HIV and AIDS. Specifically, the division and the department shall coordinate outreach, eligibility determination, and intake, in order to ensure that clients receive the maximum services available under state law that are most appropriate for their clinical needs. In addition, the division and the department shall maximize federal reimbursement for health services provided to individuals with HIV and AIDS by ensuring that all such eligible clients with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are enrolled in MassHealth.

Civil Monetary Penalties Fund

SECTION 127. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the division of medical assistance and the department of public health shall deposit all monies collected as civil monetary penalties from nursing homes participating in the Medicaid program authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act into a separate expendable trust fund which shall be designated and known as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Civil Monetary Penalties Fund. Monies collected as civil monetary penalties from nursing homes shall include both monies collected from Medicaid-only facilities, known as nursing facilities, and the commonwealth portion of funds collected from dually participating facilities, known as skilled nursing facilities or nursing facilities, for noncompliance with sections 1919(b), 1919(c), and 1919(d) of the Social Security Act and monies collected from individuals pursuant to sections 1919(b)(3)(B)(ii)(I), 1919(b)(3)(B)(ii)(II), and 1919(g)(2)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act. The department may expend monies from this fund without further appropriation in accordance with the provisions of this section. The department shall administer the fund in accordance with law including, without limitation, section 1919(h)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act. The department shall expend monies in the fund for measures to protect the health and property of nursing home residents in nursing home facilities found by the department or the secretary of health and human services to be deficient including, without limitation, the following: (i) nursing facility staff training and education; (ii) technical assistance for troubled facilities; (iii) dissemination of best practice models for quality of care issues, such as malnutrition and dehydration; (iv) state operation of facilities pending correction of deficiencies or closure; (v) reimbursement of facility residents for lost personal funds or property; and (vi) costs of relocating residents from one facility to another.

Allocation of Administrative FFP in Proportion to Spending

SECTION 128. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, federal reimbursements received for administrative expenditures made pursuant to the provisions of items 4000-0300, 4000-0310, and 4000-0325 of section 2 shall be credited proportionally to the General Fund and to the Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund established pursuant to section 2FF of chapter 29 of the General Laws in the same percentages as expenditures are made from each such item from said funds; provided, however, that all federal revenues received pursuant to an enhanced rate of reimbursement authorized pursuant to the provision of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act shall be credited to said Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund.

Private Sector Liability and State Contribution to the Uncompensated Care Pool

SECTION 129. For hospital fiscal year 2001, the private sector liability of purchasers and third party payers to the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund established pursuant to section 18 of chapter 118G of the General Laws shall be $315,000,000. For state fiscal year 2001 notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, $30,000,000 generated by federal financial participation made available under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act to reimburse the costs of said trust fund for disproportionate share hospitals shall be deposited into said trust fund.

Intergovernmental Transfers to Disproportionate Share Hospitals

SECTION 130. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the division of medical assistance may expend from the medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund $32,000,000 for the intergovernmental funds transfer component of disproportionate share payments to certain acute care hospitals established in accordance with Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, or any successor federal statute, any regulations promulgated thereunder, the Medicaid state plan, and the terms and conditions of agreements reached with the division for such transfer payments. No funds shall be expended unless a public entity is legally obligated to make an intergovernmental funds transfer to the division for deposit into said medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account in an amount specified in an agreement with such entity. All revenues generated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be credited to said medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account.

Intergovernmental Transfer for MassHealth Managed Care Contracts

SECTION 131. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the division of medical assistance may, during fiscal year 2001, including the accounts payable period for said fiscal year, expend from the medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund an amount not to exceed $242,000,000 for a program of MassHealth supplemental payments, so called, to certain publicly-operated entities providing Title XIX reimbursable services, directly or through contracts with hospitals under an agreement with the division relating to such payments and transfers as established in accordance with Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act or federal waivers thereof, federal regulations promulgated thereunder, the terms of the waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, state law, and the Medicaid state plan. Such expenditures shall reduce payments from the uncompensated care pool, established pursuant to the provisions of section 18 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, to such entities by an amount comparable to the net revenues received by such entities under this section. Said division shall notify the house and senate committees on ways and means if such expenditures are rendered ineligible for federal reimbursement. Amounts so authorized for expenditure by this section shall be funded in part through intergovernmental transfers to the commonwealth or municipal or other non-federal public funds. The Boston public health commission and the Cambridge public health commission shall transfer to said medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account not less than one-half of the gross amounts of supplemental payments, so called, made by the division under managed care contracts with said commissions.

Intergovernmental Transfer to University of Massachusetts-Affiliated Hospitals

SECTION 132. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the division of medical assistance shall expend from the medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund $45,000,000 for the intergovernmental funds transfer component of Medicaid payments to the University of Massachusetts memorial hospital for hospital services provided pursuant to the terms and conditions of the contract between the division and said hospital. Programs funded pursuant to this section shall not create recurring liabilities to the commonwealth in future fiscal years. Said medical assistance intergovernmental transfer account shall be reimbursed $22,500,000 by the University of Massachusetts medical school pursuant to this section. The University of Massachusetts medical school shall submit to the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 1, 2001, a report detailing the programs funded from revenue associated with this section.

FFP for the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund

SECTION 133. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the division of medical assistance, hereinafter referred to as the division, and the division of health care finance and policy shall take any appropriate action to obtain the maximum amount of federal financial participation available for amounts paid to hospitals, determined by the division to be disproportionate share hospitals in accordance with requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, for free care costs of such hospitals. Such appropriate action may include, but shall not be limited to, the assessment on hospitals for their liability to the uncompensated care pool pursuant to chapter 118G of the General Laws. Such appropriate action shall include the establishment or renewal of an interdepartmental service agreement between the division and the division of health care finance and policy which may authorize the division to make deposits into and payments from an account established for the purposes of this section within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund established by section 18 of said chapter 118G, or authorize the division of health care finance and policy to transfer uncompensated care fee revenue collected from hospitals pursuant to said chapter 118G or funds otherwise made available to said trust fund by the general court, to the division for the purposes of making disproportionate share adjustment payments to hospitals qualifying for such payments in accordance with the Medicaid state plan and relevant provisions of said Title XIX. The division may expend amounts transferred to it from the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund by the division of health care finance and policy under such interdepartmental service agreement without further appropriation. In no event shall the amount of money assessed upon each hospital exceed the hospital's gross liability to the uncompensated care pool as determined by the division of health care finance and policy pursuant to said section 18 of said chapter 118G. Any federal funds received as a result of actions pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund. The offices of the state treasurer and the comptroller shall establish such procedures as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section, including procedures to facilitate the expeditious assessment, collection, and expenditure of funds pursuant to this section.

Funding for Health Care Reform from the Uncompensated Care Pool

SECTION 134. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section 18 of chapter 118G of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in fiscal year 2001, all expenditures for the insurance reimbursement program established pursuant to section 9C of chapter 118E of the General Laws shall be made from the Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund established pursuant to section 2FF of chapter 29 of the General Laws. The comptroller shall transfer $88,000,000 from the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund established by said section 18 of said chapter 118G to said Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund. The transfer shall be made in monthly installments of not more than one-twelfth of the total amount approved for transfer herein. Federal funds received pursuant to such expenditures shall be deposited in said Children's and Seniors' Health Care Assistance Fund.

Hospital Assessments for Division of Health Care Finance and Policy Administrative Funding

SECTION 135. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the amount assessed to acute hospitals in fiscal year 2001 for the estimated expenses, including indirect costs, of the division of health care finance and policy shall be equal to the amount appropriated by the general court in items 4100-0060 and 4100-0061 in section 2 less amounts projected to be collected in fiscal year 2001 from (1) filing fees, (2) fees and charges generated by the division's publication or dissemination of reports and information, and (3) federal financial participation received as reimbursement for the division's administrative costs; provided, that said assessed amount shall be not less than 75 per cent of the division's expenses as specified herein.

Welfare-to-Work Reports

SECTION 136. As a condition of the continued receipt of funding under items 4401-1000 and 4401-1001 of section 2, the 16 service delivery area administrative entities established pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, 29 U.S.C. section 1511, shall submit quarterly reports, in coordination with the corporation for business, work, and learning, to the department of transitional assistance on the expenditure of the funds from the federal welfare-to-work grant, so called, in each such service delivery area, in order to monitor employment and training services for current and former recipients of the transitional aid to families with dependent children program. Said reports shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the number of individuals served who have exhausted benefits under said program; (b) the number of individuals served who have incomes below the federal poverty level but have never received benefits under said program; (c) the number of individuals served who are non-custodial parents; and (d) the cost of service per individual served. Said reports shall include the name and social security number or other unique identifier for each individual receiving services under said grant. Said reports shall detail the types of services provided to each such individual, including, but not limited to, job search, pre-employment training, post-employment training, mentoring, counseling, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation services. Said department shall review said reports to ensure that no duplication of services exists between those provided pursuant to items 4401-1000 and 4401-1001 of section 2 and those provided pursuant to said grant. Said department may consider said reports in determining the allocation of funds to service delivery areas under the skills training program, so called, funded in items 4401-1000 and 4401-1001 of section 2.

Disproportionate Share Hospitals FFP for DMH/DPH Facilities

SECTION 137. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the department of mental health, the department of public health, the division of medical assistance, and the division of health care finance and policy shall take any appropriate action to obtain the maximum amount of federal financial participation available for amounts paid for low-income care costs at those mental health and public health facilities determined to be disproportionate share hospitals in accordance with the requirements of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act. Such appropriate action may include, but shall not be limited to, the establishment of a separate account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund established by section 18 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, for the purpose of making disproportionate share adjustment payments to such qualifying mental health and public health facilities pursuant to relevant division of health care finance and policy regulations and the related Medicaid state plan amendment submitted by the division of medical assistance to the federal Health Care Financing Administration. The division of medical assistance, the department of public health, and the department of mental health may expend amounts transferred to them from such separate account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund without further appropriation. Any federal funds received as a result of actions taken pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund. The offices of the state treasurer and the comptroller shall establish such procedures as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section, including procedures to facilitate the expeditious collection and expenditure of funds pursuant to this section.

Workforce Development Coordinating Committee

SECTION 138. There shall be established within the department of labor and workforce development a coordinating committee on workforce development for the purposes of coordinating workforce development program goals and maximizing the impact of available resources and operations for fiscal year 2001 and subsequent years. The coordinating committee shall be chaired by the director of said department or his designee and shall be comprised of, but not limited to, the following representatives or their designees: the president of the corporation for business, work, and learning, the deputy director of the division of employment and training, the commissioner of the department of education, the chancellor of the board of higher education, the secretary of health and human services, the director of the department of economic development, the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, the commissioner of the Massachusetts commission for the blind, and a representative from the attorney general's office. For planning purposes for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220, said committee shall submit a report of activities to the Massachusetts workforce investment board, so called, the secretary of administration and finance, and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than May 15, 2001.

Neighborhood Housing Service Loans

SECTION 139. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12 of chapter 490 of the acts of 1980, the department of housing and community development may authorize neighborhood housing services corporations to retain, reassign, and re-loan funds received in repayment of loans made pursuant to the neighborhood housing services rehabilitation program.

DHCD Income Verification

SECTION 140. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the department of housing and community development may conduct annual verifications of household income levels based upon state tax returns for the purposes of administering the state and federal housing subsidy programs funded in items 7004-9004, 7004-9005, 7004-9009, 7004-9030, 7004-9011, 7004-9013, 7004-9014, 7004-9019, 7004-9020, and 7004-9024 of section 2; provided, however, that as a condition of eligibility or continued occupancy by an applicant or a tenant, said department may require disclosure of the social security number of an applicant or tenant and members of such applicant's or tenant's household for use in verification of income eligibility. Said department is hereby authorized to deny or terminate participation in subsidy programs for failure by an applicant or a tenant to provide a social security number for use in verification of income eligibility. Said department also may consult with the department of revenue, the department of transitional assistance, and any other state or federal agency which it deems necessary to conduct such income verification; provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, such state agencies shall consult and cooperate with said department and furnish any information in the possession of said agencies including, but not limited to, tax returns and applications for public assistance or financial aid. For the purposes of conducting such income verification, the director of housing and community development may enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the commissioner of revenue to utilize the department of revenue's wage reporting and bank match system for the purpose of verifying the income and eligibility of participants in such federally assisted housing programs and that of members of the participants' households.

Division of Registration Name Change

SECTION 141. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, all references to the "division of registration" in any Massachusetts general or special law or in any order, rule, regulation, or other document shall mean and shall be construed as referring to the division of professional licensure.

Electric Vehicle Insurance

SECTION 142. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 30 of chapter 29 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the division of energy resources may procure, in accordance with all applicable procurement and solicitation laws, comprehensive motor vehicle insurance coverage for electric vehicles purchased for use in the commonwealth's electric vehicle demonstration program. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any additional state appropriated funds for the division of energy resources. The coverage may continue or be renewed until the conclusion of said vehicle demonstration program.

Performance School Grant Pilot Project

SECTION 143. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the board of education shall make grants to schools which have accepted designation as a "performance school". Said grants shall be directed to augment the salaries of the teachers and administrators of the performance schools as the professional staff of said schools has agreed to forego the protections of sections 40, 41, and 42 of chapter 71 of the General Laws and to accept evaluations and determinations of continued employment and any future increases in compensation based on a plan submitted to said board which is substantially based on the performance and achievement of the students of said schools.

Establishment of Commonwealth Academies

SECTION 144. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the board of education may establish schools or designate programs as commonwealth academies. Said academies shall provide remediation and academic assistance to promote higher achievement by students on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system examination. Said academies may be affiliated with public school districts, commonwealth charter schools, or Horace Mann charter schools, but may operate independently of such schools pursuant to the board's approval. Said academies shall operate after school hours during the week, on weekends, and during the months of June, July, and August, and other vacation periods. Said board shall establish guidelines for the operation, management, and curriculum standards of said academies.

Education Audits

SECTION 145. Section 259 of chapter 127 of the acts of 1999 is hereby repealed.

Wage Adjustment Factor in the Chapter 70 Formula

SECTION 146. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of chapter 70 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2001 all wage adjustment factors calculated within the foundation budget appearing below 1 shall be raised by 25% of the difference between the wage adjustment factor and 1.

School Building Assistance Waitlist and Five Year Borrowing

SECTION 147. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 70B of the General Laws, the school facilities commission shall, as funding is available, direct the treasurer to disburse money to the cities, towns, and school districts listed in this section, for the school construction projects listed in this section. The total reimbursement for said cities, towns, and school districts shall be the total project cost as listed in this section, or the final approved project cost, as determined by the school facilities commission, multiplied by the reimbursement rate indicated in this section, which ever is lesser. The city, town, or school district shall submit whatever documentation may be required by the school facilities commission to determine the final approved project cost. The total construction grant shall be paid annually in equal parts to be determined by dividing the total grant by the number of years during which any indebtedness incurred for such project shall remain outstanding. Priority for payment shall be given in the order of the projects as listed in this section.
     Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 of chapter 44 of the General Laws, the officers of a city, town, or regional school district listed in this section may issue bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness for the school construction projects listed in this section and may refund, by the issuance of refunding notes, a temporary loan issued in anticipation of money to be derived from the sale of such bonds, notes, or certificates; provided, however, that the period from the date of issue of the original temporary loan to the final maturity of any such refunding notes shall not exceed five years; and provided further, that such refunding notes shall not be required to be paid in part from revenue funds of the city, town or regional school district until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the board of education approves the project for a school construction grant pursuant to the provisions of chapter 645 of the acts of 1948 or a successor school construction grant statute. The time within which the serial bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness issued to pay refunding temporary notes issued hereunder shall be due and payable shall be extended by the period from the date of the original temporary loan to either (a) the date of issue of such serial bonds, notes or certificates, or (b) the end of the fiscal year in which the board of education approves the project for a school construction grant, whichever date is earlier.

Criminal Justice Training Council Fee

SECTION 148. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the criminal justice training council shall charge $1,800 per recruit for training programs operated by the council for all persons who begin training on or after July 1, 2000. For recruits of municipalities, the comptroller shall transfer to the Local Aid Fund from local aid payments of the municipality in which recruits shall serve the sum of $1,800 multiplied by the number of such recruits from each municipality. Said council shall transmit the required information to the comptroller and the comptroller shall make said transfers in the fiscal quarter immediately following the completion of the training. The comptroller shall certify all such transfers to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than 30 days after completion of such transfer. Upon completion of training, said training fee of $1,800 shall be deducted from the recruit's wages in 18 equal monthly installments, unless otherwise negotiated between such recruit and the municipality in which such recruit shall serve. All funds collected from persons other than recruits of municipalities shall be deposited in the General Fund.

FFP for Title XIX - Psychiatric Services to Inmates under DOC

SECTION 149. The division of medical assistance shall seek $5,000,000 in federal financial participation, under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, for $10,000,000 in expenditures made for psychiatric and other health services provided to incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities operated by the department of correction. Upon receipt of said federal financial participation said division may transfer $5,000,000 from the intergovernmental transfer account within the Uncompensated Care Trust Fund to the University of Massachusetts medical school. Said transfer shall be made in accordance with the terms of an interdepartmental service agreement between said department, said medical school, and said division. Said interdepartmental service agreement shall provide for said medical school to arrange for the delivery of psychiatric and other health services to persons incarcerated in correctional facilities operated by said department. Upon receipt of said federal financial participation, the comptroller shall credit $5,000,000 to said intergovernmental transfer account for purposes of financing the intergovernmental transfer authorized herein.

Effective Date

SECTION 150. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.