Bill > S1780

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Public Safety Building Authority (MPSBA), a new independent public authority designed to assist municipalities in constructing and improving public safety buildings like police and fire stations. The authority will be composed of seven members, including the state treasurer (who will serve as chairperson), the secretary of administration and finance, and four additional appointed members with expertise in public safety facilities and services. The authority will create a Public Safety Building Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund, which will be primarily funded by dedicating 1% of sales tax revenues and 33% of marijuana sales tax revenues. The fund will provide financial assistance to cities and towns for public safety building projects, with the authority having broad powers to review grant applications, provide technical assistance, develop project priority systems, and administer grants. Before reviewing any grant applications, the authority must first conduct a comprehensive statewide review of existing municipal public safety buildings, examining factors like building age, services provided, population served, and facility conditions. The authority will be required to submit annual reports to the governor and legislative committees detailing anticipated financial needs for public safety facility projects and will develop long-term capital plans to guide its policies. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that while the authority can provide assistance, municipalities do not have an entitlement to funds, and all funding decisions remain at the authority's discretion.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1780