Information on bills filed by Representative Peisch for the 2017-2018 legislative session
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H.2708 An Act relative to energy efficiency funds generated by municipal light plants
Currently, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds are primarily used for energy efficiency programs administered by investor-owned utilities in the state. As such, public power towns do not receive any of this funding because they are ineligible under current law, even though they are still required to contribute to the program. This bill would specifically require that a portion of those monies collected from RGGI auctions be returned to Municipal Lighting Plants for their use for energy efficiency programs. It also appoints Program Administrators to manage the funds and submit program expenditures to ensure the money is spent appropriately. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. |
H.2578 An Act relative to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund Board of Directors
This bill would add an 8th trustee to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund (SRBTF) Board of Directors, who would be appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. In 2011, legislation granted municipalities and other government entities the ability to invest their funds through the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund, and since that time, over 40 municipalities and other government entities have taken advantage of this provision, with an additional 25 entities expressing interest. However, there is currently no voice on the SRBTF Board of Directors that directly represents the interests of these municipalities, which this bill seeks to address. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Public Service. |
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H.2195 An Act to add a compulsory death benefit to automobile liability insurance
Currently, the minimum amount of “bodily injury” insurance coverage used to compensate the families of those killed in fatal automobile accidents is no more than $20,000. Unfortunately, this amount is oftentimes not enough to meaningfully support surviving family members once legal and medical fees are paid after death. This legislation would add an additional “death benefit” to compulsory motor vehicle insurance, providing for insurance coverage of not less than $100,000 for the estate of any person killed by the negligence of the operator of a motor vehicle regardless of the relationship of the deceased to the owner or driver of the automobile, in cases only where the decedent had minor children, a spouse, or dependent parents at the time of death. It is important to note that the death benefit would not be subject to health insurance liens and it not intended for that purpose. Rather, this bill simply serves to better support surviving family members by providing them with a death benefit appropriately valued to address their immediate needs in tragic circumstances. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Financial Services. |
H.1993 An Act making municipalities eligible to attend auctions for the purchase of motor vehicles
This bill would allow an agent acting on behalf of a municipality to attend a motor vehicle auction with the intent of making a purchase. At this time, only those with Class 2 vehicle sales licenses or car dealer licenses can attend motor vehicles auctions. This change in law would enable municipalities to buy used vehicles through venues such as car auctions, thereby saving money when purchasing vehicles that cities and towns use on a day-to-day basis. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and was heard by the committee on May 16, 2017 |
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H.2646 An Act extending net operating losses to financial institutions
Currently, Massachusetts’ law, dissimilar to the majority of other states, does not allow for every type of business, including financial institutions, to claim a tax deduction for net operating losses. This bill would permit financial institutions to claim a net operating loss deduction in Massachusetts – the same deduction currently afforded to business and utility corporations. This proposal would thus strengthen the Commonwealth’s competitiveness for a key employer and sector of the economy. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Revenue and was heard by the committee on May 9, 2017. |
H.2647 An Act reforming economic substance rules
Currently, state law demands a heavy burden for taxpayers seeking to withstand the Commonwealth’s scrutiny of certain transactions. While most would not support tax avoidance through the use of sham transactions, the method by which business transactions are scrutinized should be reasonable and fair. Under this legislation, Massachusetts would replace an arduous burden of proof rule for proving economic substance in transactions with the strong federal rule, which would make the tax administration process more clear and predictable for companies in all industries. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Revenue. |
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H.2196 An Act relative to real estate disclosure forms
Currently, state law does not dictate that a seller must disclose all known and relevant information about the property to be sold. This legislation will establish guidelines for creating a standard disclosure form for residential real estate sales, which will disclose all relevant and material information known to a seller about the property to be sold in order to make clear any issues with a property to potential buyers. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Financial Services. |
H.1994 An Act regulating the granting of temporary licenses for the sale of wine, beer, and malt liquor at auctions
This bill would allow the local licensing authorities of cities and towns to grant temporary licenses to nonprofits for the sale of all forms of alcohol at auction. The current law allows only for the sale of wine at auction, and this legislation expands it to allow for the sale of beer and malt liquor as well. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and was heard by the committee on May 16, 2017. |
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H.2425 An Act relative to handicap automobile licenses or placards
This bill would amend current law so that individuals who have a handicapped license plate or placard do not have to pay a fee to appeal a penalties/fine for allegedly parking illegally in a handicap space. Furthermore, the bill allow an alleged parking violator whose appeal receives an unfavorable decision from the traffic clerk to challenge that decision by appealing to the Mayor or Board of Selectmen of their town or city. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. |
H.2754 An Act regulating the posting of speed limits
Under present law, drivers operating on roads maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation are not protected by the same speed regulations found in MGL Ch.90, §.18. Roads maintained by DCR are exempt from traffic engineering studies, whereas state highways and municipal roads use traffic engineering studies to establish speed regulations. This legislation would require DCR to also complete traffic engineering studies, followed by speed limit adjustments on roads that are under DCR jurisdiction based on the study’s findings. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee on Transportation. |