Bill > H3485

This bill establishes a pilot program called the Gateway Municipality Public Safety Program, administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in collaboration with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. This program will award grants from a dedicated Gateway Municipality Public Safety Fund to "gateway municipalities" – which are likely cities or towns facing economic challenges – to help them address public safety issues that hinder economic development. Municipalities can apply for these grants annually, providing plans that demonstrate how they will tackle public safety problems and work with police, local officials, and private developers to spur economic growth. The selection criteria for grants will consider the severity of the problems, the viability of the proposed solutions, and the municipality's commitment to the program's goals. Both the participating municipalities and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will be required to report on the progress made in addressing public safety concerns and achieving economic development objectives. The bill also outlines the funding for the program, including an initial appropriation and provisions for future funding, and specifies that unexpended funds will carry over to the next fiscal year. Finally, it includes a repeal of Section 1 and sets an effective date of January 1, 2024, for Section 2, which likely means the program will be repealed at that time, suggesting this is a temporary pilot.