Bill > H5049

This bill makes supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2024 and enacts various changes to laws related to energy infrastructure, environmental justice, and other public purposes. * **General Fund Appropriations:** * Tax Abatements for Veterans, Widows, Blind Persons and the Elderly: $11,077,209 * Municipal Regionalization and Efficiencies Incentive Reserve: $12,673,961 * Transfer to MassCEC (Massachusetts Clean Energy Center): $10,000,000 * EOHHS (Executive Office of Health and Human Services) and Medicaid Administration: $7,563,044 * MassHealth Fee for Service Payments: $565,417,349 * Public Health Hospitals: $5,055,887 * School Breakfast Program: $8,700,000 * Reserve for Alcohol or Substance Use Disorder Facilities: $14,000,000 * Reserve for County Sheriffs' Offices: $46,000,000 * Reserve for Online Lottery Start-up Costs: $2,500,000 (available until June 30, 2026) * Reserve for Mosquito-Borne Disease Eradication: $400,000 * Transfer to Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: $10,000,000 * MBTA Workforce and Safety Reserve: $117,582,748 * Collective Bargaining Reserve: $59,000,000 * Chapter 257 and Human Service Reserve: $28,465,994 * Bureau of Substance Addiction Services: $7,000,000 * Department of Youth Services Residential Services: $8,000,000 * Federal Matching Funds (Transportation): $24,500,000 * Regional Transit Grants and Equity: $23,800,000 * Income-Eligible Child Care: $13,619,274 * Teacher Diversity Initiative: $12,000,000 * Scholarships for Nursing Students at Community Colleges: $9,700,000 * Capacity Building for Free Community College: $9,100,000 * New State Police Class: $5,974,741 * Department of Corrections Facility Operations: $22,771,552 * Re-Entry Programs (Corrections): $827,819 * **Intragovernmental Service Fund Appropriations:** * Central Services Chargeback (Veterans' Services): $1,698,000 * Chargeback for Education Information Technology Costs: $486,352 * **Re-appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025:** Various unexpended balances from fiscal year 2024 are re-appropriated for specific purposes across numerous state agencies and programs, including the Judiciary, Treasurer and Receiver-General, State Ethics Commission, Cannabis Control Commission, Health Policy Commission, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and various Executive Offices. * **Legislative Changes:** The bill also includes significant legislative changes, including: * Establishing an office of environmental justice and equity within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. * Developing a methodology for siting clean energy generation facilities. * Expanding eligibility for certain workforce programs to include work permits and professional credentialing for non-citizens. * Creating new divisions and funds within the Department of Public Utilities related to energy facility siting, public participation, and intervenor support. * Establishing new processes and criteria for the siting and permitting of small and large clean energy infrastructure facilities. * Modifying laws related to veterans' license plates and benefits. * Creating a Department of Public Utilities and Energy Facilities Siting Board Intervenor Support Fund. * Authorizing solicitations for energy storage systems. * Transferring employees from the Berkshire County Regional Emergency Communications Center to the state 911 department. * Allocating funds from various revenue sources to specific funds, including the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, Education and Transportation Fund, and High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund.