By Mr. Sciortino of Medford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3632) of Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., and others that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles be authorized to promulgate rules for the regulation of car sharing organizations in the Commonwealth.  Transportation

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

Martha M. Walz

Thomas P. Kennedy

Elizabeth A. Malia

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act promoting carsharing.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 90 is hereby amended by adding after section 32E ½  the following section:-

Section 32E ¾: (a) As used in this section, “carsharing organization” means a corporation or cooperative that owns a fleet of one or more cars, parked in common areas and retains a membership base that has exclusive access to the fleet on a timed basis. The registrar of motor vehicles shall promulgate regulations to further define “carsharing organization” as necessary.

(b) Vehicles in the fleet of a carsharing organization shall be permitted to bear residential license plates as issued by the registrar of motor vehicles under Section 2 of Chapter 90.

SECTION 2. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following subsection:-

(m)(1) As used in this subsection “carsharing organization” is defined as in Section 32E ¾ of Chapter 90.

(2) A taxpayer shall be allowed a credit against taxes imposed by this chapter for the expenses incurred by the taxpayer to pay membership dues or usage fees to a carsharing organization. The amount of the credit shall equal the lesser of the aggregate annual dues and fees or $150.

SECTION 3. Chapter 180 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after Section 17J the following section:--

Section 17K. (a) As used in this section, “carsharing organization” is defined as under Section 32E ¾ of Chapter 90.

(b) Deductions on payroll schedules may be made on a pre-tax basis from the salary of any state, county, municipal or other public employee of an amount which such employee may specify in writing to any state, county or municipal officer, or public department head, board, commission or agency by whom or which he is employed, for the purchase of a membership or monthly dues to a car-sharing organization. All deductions pursuant to this section shall be made without charge to any person or entity. Any such authorization may be withdrawn by the employee by giving at least sixty days notice in writing to the state, county or municipal officer, or public department head, board, commission or agency by whom or which he is then employed.

The state treasurer, the common paymaster, as defined in section one hundred and thirty-three of chapter one hundred and seventy-five, or the treasurer of the county or municipality by which such employee is employed, shall deduct from the salary of such employee such amount of authorized deductions as may be certified to him on the payroll and transmit the sum so deducted to the recipient specified by such employee.

SECTION 4. Section 1 of Chapter 40R, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “choices,” on line 9 the following words:-

“including carsharing,”