The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth ensures that the public has access to historic as well as current public information. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for a variety of administrative tasks that are vital to state government, including the supervision of voter registration and elections procedures, provision of voter information, and access to public agencies' documents.

The Secretary's Office is the principal information agency for the Commonwealth. It maintains the State Archives, which houses Massachusetts historical documents and artifacts; and the State Records Center, the repository for recent records of public agencies. The Secretary publishes changes to state laws and regulations; advertises city, town and state procurement of goods and services; and increases access to governmental information through efficient and accurate record keeping. Information is further disseminated through publications, such as the "Citizens' Guide to State Services," mailings, and a library of local zoning laws, maps, and regulations.

The Secretary registers all Massachusetts corporations, lobbyists, securities brokers, and investment advisors; provides on-line access for corporate and securities information; and aggressively enforces the Investment Advisor Statute requiring that all financial advisors are registered and licensed. The One-Stop Shopping Program eases new business formation by providing individuals with government documents pertaining to licensing, state and federal taxes, and education and training.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission is responsible for protecting and preserving the Commonwealth's valuable history. It also administers the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund which provides grants as seed money to enable local communities to raise matching funds for the preservation of historical buildings in their communities. The Secretary's Office provides tours and offers educational information for the 100,000 tourists that visit the State House each year.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1998, the Secretary of the Commonwealth will:

• continue to fully implement the Corporate Dissolution Project, which sends notices to corporations delinquent in the filing of annual reports for two or more consecutive years, and initiates a dissolution if they fail to comply; and
• enhance and further implement the Central Voter Registry Computer System by updating and improving hardware and software; increasing network capabilities and the number of agencies electronically linked; and modifying the connection with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Consistent with the Weld/Cellucci Administration's plan to abolish county government, the Registries of Deeds will be transferred to the new Division of Deeds within the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth as of Fiscal Year 1998. In Fiscal Year 1999, all remaining county government functions will be transferred to the Commonwealth.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1998 recommendation is $40.15 million. This level of funding includes $23.46 million for the new Division of Deeds, and a $500,000 expansion for the Central Voter Registry Computer System and the Corporate Dissolution Project.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADMINISTRATION
0511-0000	For the administration of the office of the secretary	7,341,956

ARCHIVES DIVISION ADMINISTRATION
0511-0200	For the administration of the state archives division	552,577

RECORDS CENTER ADMINISTRATION
0511-0230	For the administration of the records center	209,294

ARCHIVES FACILITIES OPERATIONS
0511-0250	For the operation and maintenance of the archives facilities	615,362

COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM OPERATIONS
0511-0260	For the operation and administration of the commonwealth museum	210,524

DIVISION OF DEEDS
0511-0270	For the operation of the division of deeds; provided, that the costs of health insurance premiums for employees paid from this item shall be determined by the group insurance commission; and provided further, that said group insurance commission shall certify to the comptroller the amount of said costs and the comptroller shall transfer said amount to item 1108-5200	23,458,029

PUBLIC DOCUMENT PRINTING
0517-0000	For the printing of public documents	1,242,552

ELECTIONS DIVISION ADMINISTRATION AND EXPENSES OF PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS
0521-0000	For the elections division, including preparation, printing and distribution of ballots and for other miscellaneous expenses for primary and other elections	2,466,866
	Local Aid Fund 100%

CENTRAL VOTER REGISTRATION COMPUTER SYSTEM
0521-0001	For the operation and administration of the central voter registration computer system	2,851,198
	Local Aid Fund 100%

INFORMATION TO VOTERS
0524-0000	For providing information to voters	130,681
	Local Aid Fund 100%

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
0526-0100	For the Massachusetts historical commission	992,599

BALLOT LAW COMMISSION
0527-0100	For the ballot law commission	17,500

RECORDS CONSERVATION BOARD
0528-0100	For the records conservation board	35,233

Budgetary Retained Revenues

STATE HOUSE GIFT SHOP RETAINED REVENUE
0511-0001	The secretary of the commonwealth may expend an amount not to exceed thirty thousand dollars from revenues derived from the sale of merchandise at the Massachusetts state house gift shop, for the purpose of replenishing and restocking gift shop inventory	30,000

Intragovernmental Service Spending

PUBLICATIONS AND COMPUTER LIBRARY INTRAGOVERNMENTAL CHARGEBACK
0511-0003	For the costs of providing electronic and other publications purchased from the state bookstore, for commission and notary fees, and for direct access to the secretary of the commonwealth's computer library, pursuant to a schedule of fees established by the secretary	25,000
	Intragovernmental Service Fund 100%

RECORDS CENTER INTRAGOVERNMENTAL CHARGEBACK
0511-0235	For the costs of destroying obsolete records of state agencies	100,000
	Intragovernmental Service Fund 100%

Federal Grant Spending

MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE HISTORICAL SURVEY AND PLAN
0526-0105	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Statewide Historical Survey and Plan	2,000

HISTORIC PRESERVATION SURVEY AND PLANNING
0526-0114	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Historic Preservation Survey and Planning	243,000

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION - FEDERAL PRESERVATION GRANTS
0526-0115	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Massachusetts Historical Commission - Federal Preservation Grants	120,000

GLOUCESTER NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOMINATION
0526-0117	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Gloucester National Register of Historic Places Nomination	30,000

LOWELL'S BOAT SHOP AMESBURY PRESERVATION - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
0526-0118	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Lowell's Boat Shop Amesbury Preservation - Massachusetts Historical Commission	50,000

Trust and Other Spending

0526-6600

MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TRUST

2,500