Sections 4-135 All Outside Sections

Section 178C of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure "265", in line 73, the following words:- ; rape of a child who has attained the age of 16 but is under the age of 18 or indecent assault and battery on a child who has attained the age of 14 but is under the age of 18 by a mandated reporter under section 23A1/2 of said chapter 265.

Section 2 of chapter 6C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 13, the figure "11" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 13.

Said section 2 of said chapter 6C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 38, the figure "6" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 7.

Section 25 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "appropriation", in line 13, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the commission may enter into contracts or group agreements for lottery games not currently or previously authorized by the commission, resulting in a contractor or licensor to be paid a specified percentage of net or gross revenues of such game, and such payments shall not be subject to appropriation; provided further, that prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares shall not be less than 45 per cent of the total revenue accruing from the sale of lottery tickets.

Chapter 12A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 6, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 6. The office shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 30A which shall govern its proceedings.
Regulations adopted by the office and a summary thereof shall be submitted to the general court and referred to an appropriate joint committee as determined by the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than 5 days after such submission. The joint committee may vote to approve or disapprove the regulations. The regulations shall be deemed approved if a majority of the members of either branch on the committee do not disapprove of the regulations within 45 days after the filing.
Upon the approval of the joint committee or upon no action being taken by 1 either branch of the committee after the time for consideration has expired, the office shall forward the regulations to the state secretary who shall publish the same in accordance with section 5 of chapter 30A.

Section 10 of said chapter 12A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 8, the words "When authorized by a majority vote of the inspector general council, the inspector general shall" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The inspector general may.

Said section 10 of said chapter 12A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "Any", in line 11, the following words:- reports or.

Section 15 of said chapter 12A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the sixth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
A person summonsed to attend and testify under oath shall appear and testify under oath before not less than 2 persons designated by the inspector general, 1 of whom shall be the inspector general or an employee of the office who is an attorney admitted to practice in the commonwealth. Upon majority vote by the inspector general council, a representative of the inspector general council may attend the testimony. The inspector general may report on the testimony to the inspector general council in executive session.

Chapter 23N of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 17, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 17. There shall be a Sports Wagering Fund which shall receive revenues collected pursuant to sections 6 and 14. The fund shall not be subject to appropriation. The commission shall be the trustee of the fund and shall transfer monies from the fund as follows:
(i) 45 per cent to the General Fund;
(ii) 10 per cent to the Workforce Investment Trust Fund established in section 18;
(iii) 2 per cent to the Economic Development Trust Fund established in section 16I of chapter 6A;
(iv) 27.5 per cent to the Gaming Local Aid Fund established in section 63 of chapter 23K;
(v) 1 per cent to the Youth Development and Achievement Fund established in section 19;
(vi) 9 per cent to the Public Health Trust Fund established in section 58 of chapter 23K; and
(vii) 5.5 per cent to the Sports and Entertainment Events Fund established in section 13W of chapter 23A.

Section 18 of said chapter 23N, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the figure "16" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 17.

Said section 18 of said chapter 23N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(b) The fund shall be administered by the secretary of economic development in consultation with the secretary of labor and workforce development. Money in the fund may be: (i) expended to support existing workforce development programs administered by state agencies or quasi-public agencies that develop and strengthen workforce opportunities for low-income communities or unemployed or underemployed individuals or vulnerable youth and young adults; (ii) expended to support internships, apprenticeships or other work-based learning programs or programs that provide vocational or professional training to address workforce skills gaps or workforce readiness in priority economic sectors; and (iii) competitively granted to eligible recipients described in subsection (c).

Said section 18 of said chapter 23N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 25, the word "and" and inserting in place thereof the following word:- or.

Said section 18 of said chapter 23N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "permits", in line 31, the following word:- , apprenticeships.

Said section 18 of said chapter 23N, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 50, the words "housing and".

Section 5G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 16 to 18, inclusive, the words "the average annual rate of growth in United States gross domestic product over the preceding 5 years based on the most recently available " and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 95 per cent of the average of final certified capital gains tax revenues for the prior 10 fiscal years, including the most recently ended fiscal year, adjusted for inflation based on the most recently available national gross domestic product price index.

Said chapter 29 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 5G the following 2 sections:-
Section 5G1/4. There shall be a standing stabilization fund and long-term liability financing task force to review and make recommendations relative to: (i) the appropriate long-term level of funding for the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund established pursuant to section 2H; (ii) the appropriate level and means of funding for long-term financial liabilities of the commonwealth; and (iii) amendments to the mechanisms that provide funding for the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund and other long-term financial liabilities, including the provisions of section 5G.
The task force shall review: (i) the statutory threshold for excess capital gains collections established in said section 5G in consideration of historical and estimated future capital gains collections; (ii) the disbursement percentages required under said section 5G; (iii) best practices related to the funding of long-term financial liabilities among states; (iv) best practices related to the funding and size of stabilization and disaster relief funds among states; (v) the impacts of relevant fiscal policies on the commonwealth's credit ratings; (vi) an assessment of potential fiscal impacts to the commonwealth resulting from natural disasters, with consideration for historical experience and trends; and (vii) any other relevant fiscal factors to ensure the most prudent use of state revenues. The task force shall consider said disbursement percentages in consideration of the relative size or funding level of the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund established pursuant to section 24 of chapter 32A, the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund established pursuant to subsection (e) of subdivision 8 of section 22 of chapter 32 and other long-term financial liabilities of the commonwealth.
The task force shall consist of: the secretary of administration and finance who shall serve as chair; the state treasurer or a designee; the comptroller or a designee; the commissioner of revenue or a designee; 1 person to be appointed by the governor who shall be an expert in public finance and who shall be a resident of the commonwealth; and 1 person to be appointed by the state treasurer who shall be an expert in state public finance.
The task force shall report on its analysis and issue recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than June 1, 2030 and every 5 years thereafter.
Section 5G1/2. The executive office for administration and finance, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall annually conduct a multi-year budget forecast and evaluate the potential prospective stress impacts of economic scenarios, to be determined by the secretary of administration and finance, for at least the next 3 fiscal years including, but not limited to: (i) notable causes of potential deficiencies and key risk factors impacting the state budget; (ii) potential effects of economic changes on tax revenue collections and spending pressures; and (iii) sufficiency of the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund established in section 2H and other reserve balances, as identified by the secretary, in offsetting potential revenue declines and spending pressures. The executive office shall submit a report to the senate and house committees on ways and means annually, not later than October 31, with the results of the multi-year forecast and stress impact evaluation.

Said chapter 29 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2OOOOOO the following section:-
Section 2PPPPPP. (a) There shall be a separate, non-budgeted special revenue fund known as the Retired Police Dog Care Fund, which shall be administered by the secretary of public safety and security. The fund shall be credited with: (i) appropriations or other money authorized or transferred by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) funds from public and private sources including, but not limited to, gifts, grants and donations; and (iii) interest earned on money in the fund. The unexpended balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years. No expenditure made from the fund shall cause the fund to be in deficit.
(b) Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, without further appropriation, to make grants to nonprofit institutions to provide care and medical services to retired police dogs. The secretary of public safety and security shall be responsible for ensuring that funds are properly allocated to organizations for the care and medical needs of retired police dogs. For the purposes of this section, "retired police dog" shall mean a dog that was owned by a police department or police agency of the commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof, and used by the department or agency for official duties; provided, however, that "retired police dog" shall include a police dog used by and retired from a federal agency operating in the commonwealth to perform services within the commonwealth.
(c) Annually, not later than March 1, the secretary of public safety and security shall issue a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the senate and house committees on ways and means on the fund's activities including, but not limited to, amounts credited to the fund, amounts expended from the fund and any unexpended balance.

Section 6D of said chapter 29, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 24 to 26, inclusive, the words "set forth appropriations funded from the Education and Transportation Fund and Education and Transportation Innovation and Capital Fund" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- be a summary table of appropriations made in other sections funded by receipts from the income surtax pursuant to subsection (d) of section 4 of chapter 62.

Section 1 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 21 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of "Constitutional officers" the following definition:-
"Cost of Living Reserve Fund", a fund established in subdivision (6B) of section 22 to provide for the reservation of money for future cost of living liabilities of the retirement system; provided, however, that there shall be 1 fund for the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems and 1 fund each for any retirement system that opts in pursuant to said subdivision (6B) of said section 22.

Said section 1 of said chapter 32, as so amended, is hereby further amended by inserting after the definition of "Employer" the following definition:-
"Excess investment income", the amount in any calendar year where all gains from invested funds of a retirement system results in earnings in excess of the investment return assumption set in the system's most recent actuarial valuation. Such amount, in excess of said investment return assumption, shall be based on the market rate of return during a calendar year on the balance of total assets of the system at the close of business on December 31 of the prior calendar year, less the amount required to be derived by the investment return assumption set in said valuation. Not later than 90 days after the end of said calendar year, the relevant actuary of a system shall certify the total excess investment income of the system.

Section 22 of said chapter 32, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the word "seven".

Said section 22 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 9 and 10, the words "and the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund and the Cost of Living Reserve Fund.

Paragraph (a) of subdivision (6) of said section 22 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following clause:-
(vi) In any calendar year, prior to making the transfers required by clause (iii), an amount equal to 7.5 per cent of the excess investment income shall be transferred to the Cost of Living Reserve Fund for the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems. For a system other than the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems that has accepted subdivision (6B), an amount equal to 7.5 per cent of the excess investment income shall be transferred to said system's Cost of Living Reserve Fund; provided, however, that no further transfers shall be made pursuant to this clause to a system other than the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems after completion of the transfer required by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B).

Said section 22 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after subdivision (6A) the following subdivision:-
(6B)(a) There shall be: (i) a Cost of Living Reserve Fund for the state employees' and teachers' retirement system; and (ii) a Cost of Living Reserve Fund for each retirement system other than the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems that accepts this subdivision pursuant to paragraph (b). The Cost of Living Reserve Funds shall be credited all amounts set aside pursuant to clause (vi) of paragraph (a) of subdivision (6) for the purpose of establishing a reserve to meet future cost of living liabilities as provided in paragraph (h) of section 102 or paragraphs (k), (l) or (m) of section 103, and increases to the maximum base amount as provided in paragraph (i) of said section 102. Assets held in the Cost of Living Reserve Funds shall be invested with all other assets of the system, but shall not be included in a system's assets for purposes of actuarial valuations until transferred to provide for increased liabilities as contained in said paragraph (h) and (i) of said section 102 and said paragraphs (k), (l) and (m) of said section 103.
(b) This subdivision shall take effect for systems, other than the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems, upon its acceptance by a majority vote of the board of such system, subject to approval of the legislative body. For the purposes of this subdivision, "legislative body" shall mean: (i) in the case of a city, the city council in accordance with its charter; (ii) in the case of a town, the town meeting; (iii) in the case of a district, the district members; and (iv) in the case of an authority, the governing body. In the case of a county or regional retirement system, this subdivision shall take effect upon its acceptance by the county or regional retirement board advisory council at a meeting called for that purpose by the county or regional retirement board. Acceptance of this subdivision shall be deemed to have occurred upon the filing of the certification of such vote with the commission. A decision to accept this subdivision shall not be revoked.
(c) This subdivision shall take effect automatically for the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems.
(d) Until the transfer required by this paragraph has occurred, the actuary shall annually determine and certify the actuarial present value of the total increase in the liabilities of a system attributable to the additional benefits provided in paragraph (h) of section 102 or paragraphs (k), (l) or (m) of section 103. Upon certification that the balance of a system's Cost of Living Reserve Fund is not less than the amount so determined: (i) an amount equal to the amount certified for the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems shall be transferred from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the applicable Pension Reserve Fund established under subdivision (6A); and (ii) the entire balance of the Cost of Living Reserve Fund of any system other than the state employees' and teachers' retirement systems shall be transferred to the Pension Reserve Fund of that system. The transfer required by this paragraph shall occur only once with respect to each Cost of Living Reserve Fund.

Subdivision (1) of section 22C of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, appropriations or transfers made to the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund in fiscal years 2027 to 2029, inclusive, shall be made in accordance with the following funding schedule: (i) $5,130,518,640 in fiscal year 2027; (ii) $5,335,739,386 in fiscal year 2028; and (iii) $5,549,168,961 in fiscal year 2029. Notwithstanding any provision of this subdivision to the contrary, any adjustments to these amounts shall be limited to increases in the schedule amounts for each of the specified years.

Said chapter 32 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 65J the following section:-
Section 65K. Notwithstanding sections 65A to 65J, inclusive, or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a judge or justice who is eligible for retirement benefits pursuant to said sections 65A to 65J, inclusive, shall be provided written notice by the retirement board upon entry into service that if they qualify as a veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States, they shall be entitled to credit for active service in the armed services of the United States for purposes of calculating the minimum number of years a judge or justice must serve before eligibility for receipt of a pension, which credited service shall be considered to have run continuously with judicial service for purposes of said sections 65A to 65J, inclusive; provided, however, that such active service shall not be credited until such member, prior to or within 1 year of vesting pursuant to this chapter, has paid into the annuity savings fund of such system, in 1 sum or in installments, upon such terms and conditions as the board may prescribe, makeup payments, for each year of creditable service sought, of an amount equal to 10 per cent of the regular annual compensation of the member when said member entered the retirement system; provided further, that such creditable service shall not be construed to include service for more than 4 years; and provided further, that such creditable service shall not be allowed for any period of active service for which said veteran has received credit in any retirement system governed by this chapter, including, but not limited to, non-judicial membership in the state employees' retirement system. This section shall apply to national guard and active reserve personnel, both former and present. Creditable service time, both enlisted and commissioned, may be applied toward retirement on a ratio of 5 years of national guard service or 5 years of active reserve service substitutable for each year of active service. National guard and active reserve personnel shall not be precluded from making said purchase if they qualify as a veteran after vesting or if they reach the maximum of 4 years of eligible service purchase after vesting and qualifying as a veteran; provided, however, that they enter into a purchase agreement within 5 years of the last occurring event.

Section 91 of said chapter 32, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 101, the figure "$15,000" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $25,000.

Section 91A of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 27, the figure "$15,000" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $25,000.

Section 102 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 34, the words "which is $13,000 or more" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- which is equal to or greater than the maximum base amount established pursuant to paragraph (i).

Said section 102 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 38, the words "to the sum of $13,000" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- to said maximum base amount.

Said section 102 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 46, the figure "$13,000" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- said maximum base amount.

Said section 102 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "years", in line 48, the following words:- and any additional benefit paid in accordance with paragraph (h).

Said section 102 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 paragraphs:-
(h)(1) Upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 10 full years of retirement but less than 15 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase shall receive annually an additional $100 benefit to said increase. Said $100 benefit shall be granted only to members of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by the retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the retirement board in which they are a participant.
(2) Upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 15 full years of retirement but less than 20 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase shall receive annually an additional $200 benefit to said increase. Said $200 benefit shall be granted only to members of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by the retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the retirement board in which they are a participant.
(3) Upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 20 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase shall receive annually an additional $300 benefit to said increase. Said $300 benefit shall be granted only to members of the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by the retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the retirement board in which they are a participant.
(i) For the purposes of this section, the maximum base amount shall initially be $13,000. Following the completion of the transfer required by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, if in any calendar year in which the actuary certifies that the balance of the Cost of Living Reserve Fund, including the amount required to be credited to the fund for that calendar year, is not less than the actuarial present value of the total increase in system liabilities attributable to an increase of $1,000 in the maximum base amount, the maximum base amount shall be increased by $1,000, effective July 1 of the next fiscal year; provided, however, that the amount equal to said actuarial present value of the total increase in system liabilities shall be transferred from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund before such increase shall take effect.

Section 103 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "applied", in line 51, the following words:- , including any additional benefit paid in accordance with paragraphs (k), (l) and (m).

Said section 103 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 4 paragraphs:-
(k) Upon acceptance of this paragraph as provided in paragraph (n), and upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of a retirement system other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 10 full years of retirement but less than 15 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase pursuant to this section, shall receive annually an additional $100 benefit to said increase. Said $100 benefit shall be granted only to members of a retirement system, other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system, who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by their retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the board of the system in which they are a participant.
(l) Upon acceptance of this paragraph as provided in paragraph (n), and upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of a retirement system other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 15 full years of retirement but less than 20 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase pursuant to this section, shall receive annually an additional $200 benefit to said increase. Said $200 benefit shall be granted only to members of a retirement system, other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system, who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by their retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the board of the system in which they are a participant.
(m) Upon acceptance of this paragraph as provided in paragraph (n), and upon the transfer of funds from the Cost of Living Reserve Fund to the Pension Reserve Fund, as provided by paragraph (d) of subdivision (6B) of section 22, every member of a retirement system other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system who has attained at least 20 full years of retirement as of June 30 of the prior fiscal year and receives a cost of living increase pursuant to this section, shall receive annually an additional $300 benefit to said increase. Said $300 benefit shall be granted only to members of a retirement system, other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system, who retired before July 1, 2020 with 20 or more years of creditable service and whose total annual retirement benefit is less than 80 per cent of the average annual salary as determined by their retirement system's most recent actuarial valuation; provided, however, that those members who retired with a disability benefit under section 6, 7 or 26 shall be eligible with less than 20 years of creditable service. Any surviving beneficiary of a deceased member who would otherwise be eligible for the aforesaid additional benefit under this paragraph, including those beneficiaries receiving a benefit under section 9, 12, 100 or 101, shall receive said additional benefit if it is determined that they are eligible by the board of the system in which they are a participant.
(n) Paragraphs (k), (l) or (m) shall take effect for systems other than the state employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system upon its acceptance by a majority vote of the board of such system, subject to the approval of the legislative body, and subject to its additional acceptance of subdivision (6B) of section 22. For the purpose of this paragraph, "legislative body" shall mean: (i) in the case of a city, the city council in accordance with its charter; (ii) in the case of a town, the town meeting; (iii) in the case of a district, the district members; and (iv) in the case of an authority, the governing body. In the case of a county or regional system, acceptance of said paragraphs (k), (l) or (m) shall be by the county or regional retirement board advisory council at a meeting called for that purpose by the county or regional retirement board. Acceptance of this paragraph shall be deemed to have occurred upon the filing of the certification of such vote with the commission. A decision to accept this paragraph shall not be revoked.

Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17Z the following section:-
Section 17AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Cost sharing", a deductible, coinsurance, copayments and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or similar out-of-pocket expense.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) The commission shall provide any active or retired employee of the commonwealth, insured under the commission, coverage for an HIV prevention drug. There shall be no: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug.
(c) The commission shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

Section 5 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "sent", in lines 31 and 44, each time it appears, the following words:- electronically or.

Said section 5 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after the word "notice", in line 37, the following words:- electronically or.

Section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the word "issued" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- or other entitlement applied for under this chapter.

The first paragraph of said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the second sentence the following sentence:- provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, pre-existing nonconforming structures or residential uses that do not conform to zoning because of lot size or shape, frontage, lot coverage or floor area ratio requirements may be extended or altered as of right, without the need for a finding by the special permit granting authority under this paragraph, if such extension or alteration complies with the current dimensional regulations regarding height, stories and setback.

Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "use", in line 21, the following words:- or structure.

Said section 6 of said chapter 40A is hereby further amended by striking out the second and third paragraphs, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following 2 paragraphs:-
A zoning ordinance or by-law shall provide that construction or operations under a building permit shall conform to any subsequent amendment of the ordinance or by-law unless the use or construction is commenced not more than 24 months after the issuance of the last permit necessary for construction and, in cases involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable. The 24-month period shall be tolled during any time the applicant is actively seeking or obtaining other necessary permits. Construction or operations under a special permit issued pursuant to section 9 or site plan approval pursuant to the local ordinance or by-law shall conform to any subsequent amendment of the zoning ordinance or by-law or of any other local land use regulations unless the use or construction is commenced within a period of 3 years after the issuance of the special permit or site plan approval and, in cases involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, construction involving the redevelopment of previously disturbed land shall be deemed to have commenced upon substantial investment in site preparation or infrastructure construction, and construction of developments intended to proceed in phases shall proceed expeditiously, but not continuously, among phases.
A zoning ordinance or by-law may define and regulate nonconforming uses and structures abandoned or not used for a period of 4 years or more.

Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 51 and 52, and in lines 60 and 61, the words "for single and two-family residential use", each time they appear.

Said chapter 40A is hereby further amended by striking out section 10, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 10. The permit granting authority shall, after a public hearing for which notice has been given by publication and posting as provided under section 11 and by mailing to all parties in interest, grant upon appeal or upon petition with respect to particular land or structures a variance from the terms of the applicable zoning ordinance or by-law if the permit granting authority specifically finds that a strict enforcement of the ordinance or by-law would result in a practical difficulty. In making its determination, the permit granting authority shall weigh the benefits to the appellant or petitioner and to the public interest, including the interest in supporting the production of housing against the detriment to the public health, safety and welfare of the neighborhood, and may also consider: (i) whether the practical difficulty relates to soil conditions, shape or topography of such land or structures; (ii) whether the strict enforcement would impose a financial hardship on the appellant or petitioner; (iii) whether the benefit sought by the appellant or petitioner can be achieved by some other method feasible for the appellant or petitioner to achieve; and (iv) whether the practical difficulty was self-created.
Except where local ordinances or by-laws expressly permit variances for use, no variance may authorize a use or activity other than residential, not otherwise permitted in the district in which the land or structure is located; provided, however, that such variances properly granted prior to January 1, 1976, but limited in time, may be extended on the same terms and conditions that were in effect for such variance when it was originally granted. If the rights authorized by a variance are not exercised within 2 years after the variance was granted, which shall not include the time required to pursue other entitlements necessary to construct the project authorized by the variance or await the determination of an appeal referred to in section 17, such rights shall lapse; provided, however, that the permit granting authority, in its discretion and upon written application by the grantee of such rights, may extend the time for exercise of those rights for a period not to exceed 2 years; and provided further, that the application for an extension shall be filed with the permit granting authority prior to the expiration of the 2-year period. If the permit granting authority does not grant an extension within 30 days of the date of application therefor and, upon the expiration of the original 2-year period, such rights shall only be reestablished after notice and a new hearing pursuant to this section.

Section 11 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "sent", in line 8, the following words:- electronically or.

Said section 11 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word "notice", in line 23, the following words:- electronically or.

Chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 97B1/2, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 97B1/2. (a) A hospital licensed pursuant to chapter 111 and all other medical facilities that conduct medical forensic examinations shall notify a local law enforcement agency at the time the evidence of a sexual assault is obtained and not later than 24 hours after using a new kit for the collection of sexual assault evidence.
(b) Local law enforcement agencies shall:
(1) take possession of the sexual assault evidence kit from hospitals and other medical facilities that conduct medical forensic examinations within 3 business days of notification; and
(2) submit new sexual assault evidence kits to the crime laboratory within the department of state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory and has a population of more than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, within 7 business days of taking possession; provided, however, that noninvestigatory sexual assault evidence kits associated with a victim who has not yet filed a report with a law enforcement agency shall not be subject to the 7-day requirement; provided further, that noninvestigatory sexual assault evidence kits shall be safely stored by law enforcement in a manner that preserves evidence for the duration of the statute of limitations for all sexual assault and rape cases; and provided further, that all sexual assault evidence kits shall be retained for at least 15 years.
(c) The crime laboratory within the department of state police or the police department of a municipality that operates a crime laboratory and has a population of more than 150,000, in the case of a sexual assault alleged to have taken place in that municipality, shall test all sexual assault evidence kits within 30 days of receipt from a local law enforcement agency, notwithstanding the statute of limitations on the underlying offense.
(d) In cases where testing results in a DNA profile, the crime laboratory shall enter the full profile into CODIS and the state DNA database.
(e) Each sexual assault evidence kit shall be entered into the statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking system pursuant to section 18X of chapter 6A.

Section 5 of chapter 53 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the word "residences" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- municipalities of residence.

Section 16 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "year", in line 5, the following words:- ; provided, however, that the street address, street number and other information identifying the personal residence of a candidate that appears on a certificate of nomination or nomination paper shall not be a public record and shall be redacted from any copy of the candidate's nomination papers made available for public inspection, except upon a written certification by the requestor, in a form prescribed by the state secretary and signed under the penalties of perjury, that the information is sought solely for the purpose of verifying or challenging the candidate's legal qualifications for nomination or election to the office sought.

Section 34 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
Against the name of a candidate for an elective office or for state committee shall be printed the candidate's municipality of residence. Against the name of a candidate for a ward or town committee shall be printed the ward or precinct where the candidate resides, or both ward and precinct, as applicable.

Section 106 of said chapter 53, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the word "or", in line 11, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- office shall be printed the candidate's precinct or ward of residence, or both. Against the name of a candidate for.

Section 41 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 7, the words "he resides, with the name of the street and the number, if any, of his residence" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the candidate resides.

The second paragraph of said section 41 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- There shall be added to the name of each candidate for a county office the name of the city or town where the candidate resides. There shall be added to the name of each candidate for city or town office the ward or precinct where the candidate resides, or both ward and precinct, as applicable.

Said section 41 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 28 to 29, inclusive, the words "the name of the street on which he resides, with his street number, if any, and".

Section 41A of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the words "christian names and addresses" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- first names.

Section 42 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 41 and 44, the word "addresses" and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- municipalities of residence.

Section 49 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 and 3, the word "residences" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- municipalities of residence.

Section 50 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2 and 3, the words "residences and" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- wards or precincts of residence, or both, as applicable, and.

Section 51 of said chapter 54, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the word "residences" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- wards or precincts of residence, or both, as applicable.

Section 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as amended by section 25 of chapter 14 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-
The board shall establish a school meal nutrition standards advisory council to advise the commissioner on nutrition standards for meals served in schools, including, but not limited to, the implementation of the recommendations of the school meal nutrition standards commission, established in section 77 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023. The council shall: (i) provide ongoing guidance in the development of comprehensive and strengthened nutrition standards aligned with the most current public health guidance and evidence-based nutrition standards; (ii) provide ongoing feasibility assessments; and (iii) work with school food authorities and other stakeholders to reduce barriers to feasibility of implementation on issues, including, but not limited to, procurement, facilities and workforce training. The members of the council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to appropriation, for necessary expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council. The council shall consist of the following 11 members: 6 members appointed by the governor, who shall be school nutrition operators or registered dieticians representing geographically, racially and socio-economically diverse school districts; a representative from Project Bread &ndash The Walk for Hunger, Inc.; a representative from the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Healthy School Lunch Coalition; a representative from Massachusetts Farm to School Project, LLC; and a representative from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. Members shall serve for a term of 3 years. Members serving on the council shall represent a reasonable statewide geographic balance. The council shall meet not less than 4 times per year. The council shall elect from among its members a chair to serve for a term of 3 years who may appoint other officers as necessary.

Chapter 70 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 4, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 4. (a) Upon action of the general court, there shall be a foundation budget review commission to review the way foundation budgets are calculated and to make recommendations for potential changes in those calculations as the commission deems appropriate for prekindergarten to grade 12, inclusive; provided, however, that the commission shall be established not less than every 10 years. The commission shall seek to determine the educational programs and services necessary to achieve the commonwealth's educational goals and to prepare students to achieve passing scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System examinations. The review shall include, but not be limited to, components of the foundation budget created pursuant to section 3 and subsequent changes made to the foundation budget by law. The commission shall seek to determine and recommend measures to promote the adoption of ways in which resources can be most effectively utilized and consider various models of efficient and effective resource allocation. In conducting the review, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the commissioner of revenue shall provide to the commission any data and information the commissioners consider relevant to the commission's charge.
(b) Members of the commission shall consist of: the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as co-chairs; the secretary of education, or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care, or a designee; the secretary of administration and finance, or a designee; a representative from the department of revenue's division of local services; the speaker of the house of representatives, or a designee; the president of the senate, or a designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives, or a designee; the minority leader of the senate, or a designee; the governor, or a designee; the chair of the senate committee on ways and means, or a designee; the chair of the house committee on ways and means, or a designee; the director of rural affairs of the executive office of economic development, or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Inc.; the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.; the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc.; the executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, Inc.; the president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts; the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Inc.; the president of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, Inc.; the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; the executive director of the Tufts University's Center for State Policy Analysis; the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials; president and chief executive officer of The Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Inc.; and 1 member to be appointed by the governor who shall have experience in elementary and secondary education finance or municipal finance in the commonwealth.
(c) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall furnish staff and other support for the work of the commission. It shall not constitute a violation of chapter 268A for a person employed by a school district to serve on the commission or to participate in commission deliberations that may have a financial impact on the district employing that person or on the rate at which that person may be compensated. The commission may establish procedures to ensure that no such person participates in commission deliberations that may directly affect the school districts employing any such person or that may directly affect the rate at which any such person is compensated.
(d) Prior to issuing its recommendations, the commission shall conduct at least 4 public hearings across geographically diverse regions of the commonwealth. The commission shall file its report with findings and recommendations, including any legislative or regulatory changes that may be necessary to implement its recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means; and the joint committee on education. The report shall be made publicly available on the website of the department of elementary and secondary education.

Section 89 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (mm) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 subsections:-
(mm) The enrollment and accountability data for each Horace Mann charter school shall be included in the enrollment and accountability data, as a whole, for the district in which the school is located.
(nn) The board shall promulgate regulations for implementation and enforcement of this section.

Section 5A of chapter 71B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of "Approved costs threshold" the following definition:-
"Detailed cost components", a breakdown of costs on either a per-trip or per-invoice basis that shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) labor; (ii) capital or fleet and vehicle acquisition; (iii) fuel and vehicle maintenance; (iv) insurance; (v) overhead; (vi) profit; and (vii) other costs that make up the total amount being charged to the school districts.

Said section 5A of said chapter 71B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following subsection:-
(b 1/2)(1) Each school district providing required out-of-district transportation pursuant to subsection (b) shall include, in each district's solicitation documents, a breakdown of detailed cost components.
(2) Each vendor shall include detailed cost components in their submissions to school districts for bids or quotes in the competitive procurement process. The detailed cost components shall be included in: (i) the contract between the school district and the vendor; and (ii) all future invoices.
(3) Annually, each school district shall submit the detailed cost components to the department in its report. The department shall analyze the detailed cost components and report to the chairs of the joint committee on education cost trends for out-of-district transportation.

Said chapter 71B is hereby further amended by inserting after section 5A the following section:-
Section 5A 1/2. (a)(1) The department shall establish and maintain an electronic centralized database of: (i) procurement and contract documents for all out-of-district transportation pursuant to subsection (b) of section 5A; and (ii) a list of licensed special education out-of-district school transportation providers under contract with districts pursuant to section 5A. The database shall be searchable and accessible to all districts. The database shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) copies of each procurement document and signed contract provided pursuant to paragraph (2); and (ii) transportation vendor information, including, but not limited to, compliance history, the areas where service is provided, ownership structure and contract history with any district.
(2) Each district shall submit a copy of each procurement document and signed contract to the department not later than 30 days after the contract is signed. Not later than 30 days after receipt, the department shall add each document to the database established in paragraph (1).
(b)(1) The department shall establish and annually update guidelines for districts on best practices for school transportation procurement, including, but not limited to, out-of-district transportation. The guidelines shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) information on laws and regulations impacting transportation requirements; (ii) best practices for managing costs; (iii) transportation planning and operations; and (iv) managing reimbursement requests. In establishing and updating the guidelines, the department shall consult with the districts with the highest utilization rates and highest costs of out-of-district transportation.
(2) The guidelines established in paragraph (1) shall be available to all districts on the department's website; provided, however, that the department shall annually identify and provide the guidelines and additional assistance, as determined by the department, to: (i) the 20 districts with the highest out-of-district transportation costs; and (ii) any district where transportation is contributing to underperformance and inequity.

Section 8 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "vehicle", in line 54, the following words:- and a module on the dangers of wrong way driving and strategies and techniques for motorists to prevent wrong way driving.

Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 110E the following section:-
Section 110F. (a) Not later than 30 days after a family's entry into a temporary emergency assistance shelter pursuant to section 30 of chapter 23B, domestic violence shelter, substance use disorder and recovery shelter or non-emergency assistance shelter, any child under the age of 3 years old shall be referred to a certified early intervention professional for an early intervention evaluation and assessment, pursuant to the department's early intervention operational standards. The referral shall be made by shelter staff, case managers, medical providers or others. If applicable, early intervention services shall be rendered once an evaluation and determination of need have been established by a certified early intervention professional.
(b) The department, in consultation with the executive office of housing and livable communities, shall promulgate regulations pursuant to chapter 30A to implement this section.

Section 10A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words "The division", in lines 21 and 28, each time they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Subject to the receipt of all necessary federal approvals and availability of federal financial participation, the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization, accountable care organization or primary care clinician plan.

Said chapter 118E is hereby further amended by inserting after section 10Z the following section:-
Section 10AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization, accountable care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage for an HIV prevention drug. There shall be no: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug.
(c) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization, accountable care organization or primary care clinician plan shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, however, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

Section 69 of said chapter 118E, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(e) Notwithstanding 101 CMR 614.00 and any successor rules or regulations or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the office shall not apply a payment adjustment with respect to a shortfall allocation to a federally qualified community health center established under chapter 147 of the acts of 1995.

The second paragraph of section 24 of chapter 119 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- If the identity or whereabouts of a parent is unknown, the petitioner shall, upon motion and with leave of the court, cause notice to be served upon such parent by: (i) publication once a week for 3 consecutive weeks in any newspaper as the court may order; (ii) publication on a website designed for such purpose for 3 consecutive weeks; or (iii) electronic means reasonably calculated to reach the parent as determined by the court.

Section 26 of chapter 121B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 276 and 277, the words "for not less than 2 years,".

Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17D the following section:-
Section 17E. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"County correctional facility", as defined in paragraph (f) of section 1 of chapter 125.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
(b) The superintendent of each state correctional facility and the administrator of each county correctional facility shall ensure that within a reasonable time prior to release, each inmate of a state correctional facility and county correctional facility who has been committed to a term of not less than 30 days and who is negative for HIV infection, shall be:
(i) provided information and counseling about HIV prevention drugs to prevent HIV acquisition;
(ii) evaluated for the benefit of an HIV prevention drug, with the consent of the inmate;
(iii) provided with a supply of an HIV prevention drug prior to release, to an eligible inmate with their consent; provided, however, that the supply of an HIV prevention drug shall, at the inmate's option, include administration immediately prior to release of the longest duration injectable form of an HIV prevention drug, a 90-day supply of an oral HIV prevention drug, any other clinically appropriate HIV prevention drug or a prescription for such supply to be filled post-release; and
(iv) provided with information about requirements for medical monitoring after release to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of HIV prevention drugs; provided, however, that each state correctional facility and county correctional facility shall develop and implement a plan to connect each inmate receiving an HIV prevention drug to post-release medical and other services to ensure ongoing HIV prevention therapy upon release.
(c) Any pre-release supply of an HIV prevention drug shall be provided at no cost to the inmate.
(d) Each state correctional facility and county correctional facility evaluating an inmate for an HIV prevention drug pursuant to subsection (b) shall ensure that information obtained for such evaluation shall be kept confidential between the inmate and medical provider and shall not be shared with security or administrative staff.
(e) The department of correction, in consultation with the department of public health, shall promulgate regulations or issue guidance for the implementation of this section.

Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47CCC the following section:-
Section 47DDD. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Cost sharing", a deductible, coinsurance, copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or similar out-of-pocket expense.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) Any policy of accident and sickness insurance, as described in section 108, that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance that is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and policyholder in the commonwealth and any group blanket or general policy of accident and sickness insurance, issued under section 110, that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and that is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not require: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug.
(c) Any policy of accident and sickness insurance, as described in section 108, that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance that is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and policyholder in the commonwealth and any group blanket or general policy of accident and sickness insurance, issued under section 110, that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and that is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, however, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

Said chapter 175 is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 sections:-
Section 231. (a) There shall be, within the division of insurance, a permanent auto body labor reimbursement rate advisory board to address any issues related to auto body labor reimbursement rates. The advisory board shall consist of: 1 member appointed by the commissioner of insurance, who shall serve as a co-chair; 1 member appointed by the attorney general, who shall serve as a co-chair; 1 member from the auto insurance industry appointed by the Massachusetts Insurance Federation, Inc., or its successor; 1 member from the auto repair industry appointed by the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, Inc., or its successor; and 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association, Inc., or its successor. No board member shall serve more than 3 consecutive 2-year terms.
(b) The advisory board shall meet not less than 1 time per year. The advisory board shall be responsible for creating, implementing and overseeing a survey not more than once every 4 years that shall be given to relevant auto body shops and insurers as determined by the advisory board. The survey shall compile data pertaining to contracted hourly labor reimbursement rates, posted hourly labor reimbursement rates and any additional information the advisory board deems relevant. The advisory board shall collect industry data including, but not limited to: (i) labor reimbursement rates in neighboring states; (ii) total labor costs and total repair costs for repairs, including the total cost of repair; (iii) inflation data; (iv) workforce data; (v) vocational school trends; (vi) automobile insurance premiums; and (vii) any additional information as requested by the advisory board. The results of the survey and the data collected shall be reviewed and analyzed by the advisory board.
(c) Not later than December 31 every fourth year, the advisory board shall file a report of its findings and conclusions, and any recommendations of the individual members of the advisory board with the clerk of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on financial services, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the division of insurance.
Section 232. (a) The commissioner of insurance shall, every 4 years, issue the labor reimbursement rate survey to auto body shops and insurers, as established by the auto body labor reimbursement rate advisory board established in section 231.
(b)(1) Not less than every 4 years, the commissioner of insurance shall review the findings of the survey for evidence of whether there is a reasonable degree of competition in the auto body repair market.
(2) If the commissioner, through review of the labor reimbursement rate surveys and consideration of competition concludes that a reasonable degree of competition does not exist, then the commissioner shall implement a full rate hearing, under the regulations of the division of insurance, to establish a minimum auto body labor reimbursement rate for the commonwealth or a region thereof.
(c) In addition to competition, in setting the auto body labor reimbursement rate, the commissioner shall consider: (i) the best available market data relative to auto body repairs and the resulting insurance claims; and (ii) the impact on coverage premiums, including, but not limited to, phasing in the labor rate over a period of not more than 3 years.

Section 7 of chapter 175M of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the words "and for the administration of the department" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- for the administration of the department and for expenditure by the Workforce Productivity Subfund pursuant to section 12.

Said chapter 175M is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-
Section 12. (a) For the purposes of this section, "eligible applicant" shall mean an employer employing not more than 50 employees in the commonwealth; provided, however, that "eligible applicant" shall not include an employer with a plan approved pursuant to section 11.
(b) There shall be a Workforce Productivity Subfund within the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund which shall be expended by the director for the administration of this section.
(c) There shall be a grant program to support eligible applicants with: (i) costs associated with covering a temporary vacancy due to an employee being on an approved continuous leave; or (ii) other purposes as determined by the director. Eligible applicants may apply for a grant pursuant to this section in a form and manner prescribed by the department. Determinations related to grants issued pursuant to this section shall be at the sole discretion of the department.
(d) The director may promulgate regulations or other guidance necessary for the implementation of this section including, but not limited to, grant eligibility criteria.

Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8DDD the following section:-
Section 8EEE. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Cost sharing", a deductible, coinsurance, copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or similar out-of-pocket expense.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, that is delivered, issued or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not require: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug.
(c) Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, that is delivered, issued or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, however, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4DDD the following section:-
Section 4EEE. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Cost sharing", a deductible, coinsurance, copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or similar out-of-pocket expense.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement, except certificates that provide supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, issued, delivered or renewed, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not require: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug.
(c) Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement, except certificates that provide supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, issued, delivered or renewed, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, however, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4VV the following section:-
Section 4WW. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
"Cost sharing", a deductible, coinsurance, copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or similar out-of-pocket expense.
"Health care provider", as defined in section 1 of chapter 111.
"HIV", human immunodeficiency virus.
"HIV prevention drug", any pre-exposure prophylaxis drug approved for the prevention of HIV by the federal Food and Drug Administration, including any ancillary or support health service determined by the secretary of health and human services to be necessary to: (i) ensure that a drug is prescribed or administered to a person who is not infected with HIV and has no medical contraindications to the use of a drug; and (ii) monitor a person to ensure the safe and effective ongoing use of a drug through: (A) office visits; (B) laboratory testing; (C) testing for a sexually transmitted infection; (D) medication self-management and adherence counseling; or (E) any other health service specified as part of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Preventive Services Task Force or an equivalent state-authorized body with responsibility to identify health services that are components of comprehensive HIV prevention drug services.
(b) An individual or group health maintenance contract that is issued, delivered or renewed, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not require: (i) patient cost sharing; or (ii) prior authorization, step therapy or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of any HIV prevention drug; provided, however, that cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services.
(c) An individual or group health maintenance contract that is issued, delivered or renewed, within or without the commonwealth, that provides coverage for any HIV prevention drug shall not refuse, reject or deny a prescription for any covered HIV prevention drug on the basis of the type of health care provider issuing the prescription for an HIV prevention drug or the venue or practice setting of the health care provider issuing the prescription; provided, however, that the health care provider shall be licensed to prescribe medications.

The definition of "federal government shutdown" in subsection (a) of section 17 of chapter 239 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 54 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word "all" and inserting in place thereof the word:- any.

The definition of "federal government shutdown" in subsection (a) of section 42 of chapter 244 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 55 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word "all" and inserting in place thereof the word:- any.

Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 23A the following section:-
Section 23A1/2. (a) Whoever has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child who has attained the age of 16 but is under the age of 18, and who exercises or has at any time exercised custodial or supervisory authority over such child as a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply if the defendant was not more than 4 years older than the child at the time of the alleged offense. A prosecution commenced under this subsection shall not be continued without a finding or placed on file.
(b) Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child who has attained the age of 14 but is under the age of 18, and who exercises or has at any time exercised custodial or supervisory authority over such child as a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply if the defendant was not more than 4 years older than the child at the time of the alleged offense.
(c) In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 18 shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.
(d) It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant's custodial or supervisory authority over the child has ended, if the child is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.

Section 2 of chapter 275 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 5, the words "subscribed by" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- subscribed, electronically or in person, by.

Section 22 of chapter 276 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the words "subscribed by" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- subscribed, electronically or in person, by.

Section 63 of chapter 277 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, an indictment or complaint for an offense set forth in sections 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 23, 23A or 23B of chapter 265 may be found and filed at any time after the date of the commission of such offense if the identity of the person who allegedly committed the offense: (i) was identified after the limitation period set forth in this section; and (ii) has been established through a DNA analysis, as defined in section 1 of chapter 22E, using evidence collected at the time of the commission of the offense.

Section 121 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 is hereby repealed.

Item 1599-6063 of section 2A of chapter 268 of the acts of 2022, as most recently amended by section 42 of chapter 248 of the acts of 2024, is hereby further amended by striking out the words "that not less than $388,000 shall be expended for the design and installation of heating pumps for the public library in the town of Hudson," and inserting in place thereof the following words:- that not less than $388,000 shall be expended for the design and installation of heating pumps, or for the purpose of roof repairs and general structural improvements for the public library in the town of Hudson.

Section 81 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023, as amended by section 96 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by striking out the word "3-year", each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- 4-year.

Section 114 of said chapter 28, as amended by section 98 of said chapter 9, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure "2027" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2028.

Subsection (d) of section 214 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the word "September" and inserting in place thereof the following word:- November.

Subsection (d) of section 112 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025 is hereby amended by striking out the figure "2026" and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2027.

Said chapter 9 is hereby further amended by striking out section 129 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 129. Notwithstanding section 189 of chapter 149 of the General Laws, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, may transfer up to $15,000,000 of employer medical assistance contributions from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund established in section 2OOO of chapter 29 of the General Laws to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, however, that this transfer may be in addition to any other transfers from said Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to said Health Safety Net Trust Fund required in fiscal year 2026.

The special commission on local and regional public health established in chapter 3 of the resolves of 2016 and revived and continued under section 308 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024 is hereby further revived and continued until December 31, 2027.

The working group established pursuant to line item 4000-0601 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024 shall continue to develop recommendations, in addition to those filed in the personal care attendant working group reports finalized on February 28, 2025 and November 14, 2025. The working group shall submit updated recommendations consistent with requirements in line item 4000-0601 in section 2 of this act to convene and consult with the executive office of health and human services to identify savings in addition to those identified in the November 14, 2025 report to effectuate the long-term viability of the personal care attendant program. Not later than January 1, 2027, the working group shall file said recommendations with the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means.

The intersection of Centre street and Westchester road in the city of Boston shall be designated and known as Mulvey square.

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall conduct a comprehensive transit service assessment of the feasibility of establishing direct rapid bus transit between Kendall square in the city of Cambridge, the Allston and North Brighton sections of the city of Boston and the Longwood medical area in the city of Boston.
(b) The assessment shall: (i) identify the transit infrastructure that needs to be preserved for direct rapid bus transit alternatives between Kendall square in the city of Cambridge, the Allston and North Brighton sections of the city of Boston and the Longwood medical area in the city of Boston; (ii) review the prospect of constructing and operating on existing rights of way; (iii) analyze the impact of planned, designed, funded or under construction transportation or development projects nearby; (iv) identify the potential market for such transit services; and (v) evaluate the potential economic benefits to the region and to the commonwealth.
(c) The department shall make recommendations on a preferred route and how to preserve the transit infrastructure necessary for direct rapid bus transit alternatives between Kendall square in the city of Cambridge, the Allston and North Brighton sections of the city of Boston and the Longwood medical area in the city of Boston, taking into consideration nearby transportation and development projects that have been studied, designed, funded or are under construction. Not later than July 1, 2027, the department shall file a report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than October 1, 2026, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall enter into a lease agreement with the Friends of the Weston Depot for the use of the parcel or parcels of land located at 55 Church street in the town of Weston on which the Weston railroad station sits.

Notwithstanding section 2OOO of chapter 29 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in fiscal year 2027, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, may transfer to the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, established in said section 2OOO of said chapter 29, an amount not to exceed the amount equal to the cost of the fourth year of the pilot program established in section 81 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023 from funds attributable to the federal financial participation received by the commonwealth for designated state health program expenditure.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the bureau of purchased services in the operational services division shall determine prices for programs under chapter 71B of the General Laws in fiscal year 2027 by increasing the final fiscal year 2026 price by the rate of inflation as determined by the division. The division shall adjust prices for extraordinary relief pursuant to 808 C.M.R. 1.06(4). The division shall accept applications for program reconstruction and special circumstances in fiscal year 2027. The division shall authorize the fiscal year 2027 price for out-of-state purchasers requested by a program, not to exceed a maximum price determined by the bureau, by identifying the most recent price calculated for the program and applying the estimated rate of inflation for each year, as determined by the bureau pursuant to section 22N of chapter 7 of the General Laws, in which the rate of inflation is frozen beginning with fiscal year 2004, in a compounded manner for each fiscal year.

(a) The executive office of health and human services shall establish an endometriosis task force, which shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the commissioner of insurance or a designee; the assistant secretary for MassHealth or a designee; 2 representatives from the Massachusetts Medical Society; 1 representative from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc.; and 4 persons to be appointed by the secretary of health and human services, 1 of whom shall be an individual with a diagnosis of endometriosis, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a pharmaceutical company that manufactures a drug or device for detecting, preventing or treating endometriosis and 1 of whom shall be a representative of a research, advocacy or support organization primarily serving persons diagnosed with endometriosis.
(b) The task force shall: (i) research and summarize advances made in research on and treatment and diagnosis of endometriosis; (ii) research and summarize advances made in access to care for persons with endometriosis; (iii) research and summarize services and support available to persons with endometriosis, including the commonwealth's activities and programs with respect to endometriosis; and (iv) develop a comprehensive, strategic plan to improve health outcomes for persons with endometriosis, including recommendations to: (A) advance research on endometriosis; (B) improve public awareness and recognition of endometriosis; (C) improve health care delivery for persons with endometriosis; (D) increase early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis; (E) systematically advance the full spectrum of biomedical research on endometriosis; and (F) summarize any progress made relative related to the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
(c) The task force shall submit a report of its findings, summaries, plan and recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than June 30, 2027.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive protocol to prevent the occurrence of wrong way driving on limited access roadways. The protocol shall include, but not be limited to: (i) directional striping on access ramps, adequate signage, lane delineators, lighting, detection systems which activate multi-sensory warning devices that alert wrong way drivers and notify public safety agencies of wrong way driving incidents in real time; (ii) messaging systems which notify motorists of the threat of a wrong way driver; and (iii) other infrastructure based on current science and research relative to the prevention of wrong way driving incidents. The protocol shall be implemented in the most expeditious manner possible, pursuant to a multiyear plan which shall identify and prioritize access ramps and intersections based on a threat level or other similar analysis that shall include, but not be limited to, documented incidents of wrong way driving and identifiable logistical defects or deficiencies. The protocol shall be updated periodically, in increments of not less than 3 years. In carrying out this section, the highway administrator shall, in consultation with the secretary of transportation, prepare a budget for the initial cost of the plan and shall thereafter issue annual reports that shall include the costs associated with such plan for the next fiscal year, progress made in implementing the protocol and the protocol's impact and effects on reducing incidents of wrong way driving. The report shall be submitted to the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the secretary of administration and finance and the secretary of public safety not later than April 30; provided, however, that such report shall be made for at least 5 years following the effective date of this act.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of public safety shall, in consultation with the secretary of transportation, develop and implement training practices that ensure that all peace officer training conducted in the commonwealth includes, as of January 1, 2027, instruction relative to wrong way driving.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the registrar of motor vehicles shall research, develop and transmit through a comprehensive plan of public service announcements, on an annual basis, information relative to the dangers and prevention of wrong way driving. The content, transmission and effectiveness of such plan shall be reported annually to the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than March 1.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall, in consultation with the registry of motor vehicles, the executive office of public safety and security and the executive office of aging and independence, conduct a feasibility study on improving roadway safety for drivers over the age of 70. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: (i) wrong way driving incidents involving drivers over the age of 70; (ii) identification of roadway design, signage, lighting or geometric factors that may contribute to increased risks for older drivers; (iii) educational, engineering or technological interventions that may reduce wrong way driving incidents among older drivers; and (iv) recommendations for infrastructure improvements, driver education enhancements or policy changes to improve safety for older drivers.
The study and any recommendations shall be filed with the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than 12 months after the effective date of this act.

(a) There shall be a special commission to: (i) review current practices and gaps in transitional planning services; (ii) prepare a comprehensive plan to address the complex and growing number and needs of persons with disabilities whose entitlement to services under special education programs has terminated or will terminate as a result of such person's graduation from high school or attainment of age 22, hereafter referred to as transition-age youth; and (iii) recommend solutions to improve transition planning services and outcomes for transition-age youth and their families or guardians.
(b) The commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the secretary of education or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 representative of the transitional advisory committee within the bureau of transitional planning; the commissioner of the state vocational rehabilitation agency within the executive office of labor and workforce development or a designee; the commissioner of MassAbility or a designee; the commissioner of developmental services or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; 1 member of the senate; 1 member of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; 1 member representing The Arc of Massachusetts; 1 member representing the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress; 1 member representing the Federation for Children with Special Needs; and 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall represent a program that serves transition-age youth, 1 of whom shall be a transition-age youth and 1 of whom shall be a caregiver or family member of a recent transition-age youth with high support needs.
(c) The comprehensive plan shall include, but not be limited to, strategies and recommendations for: (i) improving and strengthening habilitative services pursuant to sections 12A to 12C, inclusive, of chapter 71B of the General Laws for a person with disabilities whose entitlement to services under special education programs has terminated or will terminate as a result of such person's graduation from high school or attainment of age 22; (ii) improving, enhancing and modernizing transitional planning and services for persons with disabilities who: (A) are eligible for adult services through the department of developmental services, department of mental health or MassAbility pursuant to existing eligibility processes, including, but not limited to, referrals under chapter 688 of the acts of 1983 or applications by the individual or family; (B) are assessed to be prioritized for residential placement through the department of developmental services; (C) require intensive staffing for complex behavioral or complex medical needs through the department of developmental services; and (D) require services from 1 or more member agencies of the transitional advisory committee; (iii) enhancing and improving coordination, communication and data sharing across local education agencies, the department of developmental services, department of mental health, MassAbility, individuals and their families or guardians to support informed, person-centered transition planning including, but not limited to, education on adult service systems, eligibility processes and available pathways to employment and independence; (iv) improving and modernizing the referral program established through said chapter 688 of the acts of 1983 to increase transparency, advance planning and communication between all involved parties; (v) facilitating information sharing between members of the bureau of transitional planning with the goal of serving transition-age youth and their families or guardians prior to, during and after their transition to adult services; (vi) expanding competitive integrated employment opportunities for transition-age youth with disabilities, consistent with Employment First policies and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; (vii) limiting or eliminating the number of transition-age youth who do not have a residential placement, if required by their transition plan, identified at least 6 months before their transition to adult services and ensuring that there is a clear process for transition-age youth for whom an alternative placement is not immediately available; (viii) increasing options and opportunities for transition-age youth found eligible for residential supports to maintain meaningful connections with their families or guardians, including through innovative housing models, cross-agency collaboration and improved use of existing resources, while accounting for and considering workforce capacity, clinical needs and housing availability; (ix) addressing any unique transition challenges for transition-age youth who are leaving the care of the department of children and families; (x) promoting, when possible, geographic equity in services provided across the commonwealth including, but not limited to, habilitative services, residential living opportunities, employment and day program supports and family supports; (xi) establishment of regular review processes within the bureau of transitional planning regarding the efficacy and results of any transition-age services provided by those same member organizations; (xii) modernizing and updating existing reporting and transition planning data collection processes and requirements by local education agencies and the department of elementary and secondary education pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and (xiii) identifying evidence-based transition practices that improve postsecondary employment and education outcomes for students with disabilities, including early engagement with vocational rehabilitation services, participation in pre-employment transition services, work-based learning experiences and career and technical education opportunities.
(d) In making its recommendations, the commission shall consider practices related to communication, education and awareness efforts including, but not limited to: (i) the frequency of transparent agency communication between relevant agencies and transition-age youth and the families and guardians of transition-age youth; (ii) the amount of notification time given for transition plans to be developed and finalized; and (iii) raising awareness of programs, examining outreach practices and the efficacy of services available prior to, during and after the transition process to adult services.
(e) The report shall include recommendations for: (i) modernizing and strengthening habilitative services and transitional planning services for persons with disabilities pursuant to sections 12A through 12C, inclusive, of chapter 71B of the General Laws; and (ii) interagency data sharing and transition outcome tracking across education, vocational rehabilitation and adult service systems, including metrics related to employment, postsecondary enrollment and independent living outcomes for persons with disabilities.
(f) The commission shall submit its report and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation, if any, to the executive office of labor and workforce development, the executive office of education, the executive office of health and human services, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities not later than September 30, 2027.

(a) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the operational services division, the department of public utilities and the registry of motor vehicles, shall study the special education school transportation marketplace to identify areas to improve the vendor marketplace for special education transportation to ensure open and free competition.
(b) The study shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) an analysis of pricing data from school districts; (ii) an analysis of vendor financial information; (iii) other states' models for out-of-district special education school transportation; (iv) the feasibility and efficacy of establishing a rate structure for special education transportation providers; and (v) any other information necessary to identify solutions to address the lack of competition in the marketplace.
(c) Not later than July 1, 2027, the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the operational services division, the department of public utilities and the registry of motor vehicles, shall submit a report of its findings to the chairs of the joint committee on education.

Not later than October 31, 2028, the foundation budget review commission shall file its first report pursuant to section 4 of chapter 70 of the General Laws, inserted by section 64; provided, however, that prior to filing the first report, the commission shall review recommendations and utilize data from the local contribution study completed by the department of elementary and secondary education pursuant to item 7010-0005 of section 2 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025. If the commission recommendations include proposals that would result in increased costs to the commonwealth the commission shall identify available resources to support any recommendations. The review may include other school finance programs not included in the foundation budget including, but not limited to: (i) aid to rural schools; (ii) charter school costs; (iii) out-of-district special education costs; and (iv) municipal school district transportation costs, including road mileage and geographic area. The report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education shall be made publicly available on the website of the department of elementary and secondary education.

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, inclusive, the executive office for administration and finance shall impose hiring and spending controls to restrict the number of employees for each sheriff's office and prevent spending in excess of appropriation. Such controls shall include, but not be limited to, restrictions limiting the total number of employees at each office and procedures for any large capital expenditures; provided, however, that the executive office for administration and finance may permit waivers from hiring controls for demonstrated public safety needs.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027 and consistent with current law, including, but not limited to, sections 26 and 27 of chapter 29 of the General Laws, no sheriff's office shall spend into deficiency; provided, however, that if a sheriff's office requires supplemental funding, said sheriff's office shall submit sufficient documentation of the need to spend into deficiency to the executive office for administration and finance and the comptroller's office prior to any supplemental budget being filed by the governor to address such need.
(c) If the secretary of administration and finance determines that a sheriff's office has concluded fiscal year 2027 in deficiency without providing sufficient documentation of the deficiency, or has not complied with the controls imposed pursuant to subsection (a), the secretary shall place such sheriff's office under the oversight of the sheriff fiscal oversight council established in subsection (d).
(d)(1) There shall be within the executive office of public safety and security a sheriff fiscal oversight council. The council shall oversee the finances of any sheriff's office made subject to its oversight under this section.
(2) The council shall consist of the secretary of public safety and security, who shall serve as co-chair; the secretary of administration and finance, who shall serve as co-chair; and 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall have experience in the operation of correctional facilities and 1 of whom shall have experience in state government finance. The oversight council shall meet and hire staff as it deems necessary to ensure proper oversight of sheriff operations and finances.
(3) The council, in carrying out this section, shall have access to all records, documents, accounts, correspondence and any other data and material that is maintained by the sheriffs' offices or other state agencies that the council deems necessary. Upon being subject to oversight of the council and not less than monthly thereafter, each sheriff subject to the council's governance shall provide the council with information on the status of the revenues and expenses for their office's operating budget and on the status of revenues, contracting, procurement and authorized and actual spending for any capital projects. Such reports shall provide itemized year-to-date expenditures and detailed projections for anticipated expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year and be in a form prescribed by the council. The council shall submit such monthly reports to the secretary of public safety and security, the secretary of administration and finance, the inspector general, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security.
(4) The council may set financial management metrics to ensure the fiscal and operational integrity of sheriff operations. The council may formulate and recommend a plan for a sheriff's office to stabilize and strengthen its finances, management, operations and asset conditions with a focus on maintaining activities specifically required by statute, case law or court order while limiting cost growth year over year and ensuring total annual expenditures do not exceed annual state appropriations.
(5) If a sheriff's office fails to meet any financial management metrics or the requirements of a recommended plan prescribed under clause (4), or if the sheriff's office's failure to comply with subsection (b) demonstrates an inability to appropriately manage the fiscal and operational integrity of the office, as determined by the council, the council shall take action to ensure the fiscal and operational integrity of such sheriff's office, which may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) appointing a receiver to take operational and managerial control of the applicable sheriff's office; provided, however, that such receiver shall have experience in the operation of correctional facilities; (ii) directing the comptroller not to certify any amounts for payment from a sheriff's office; and (iii) prohibiting a sheriff's office from incurring any new expenditures or obligations without prior approval of the council for a period of time to be determined by the council.

(a) Notwithstanding section 53 of chapter 118E of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2027, the executive office of health and human services may determine the extent to which to include within its covered services for adults the federally-optional dental services that were included in its state plan or demonstration program in effect on January 1, 2002 and the dental services that were covered for adults in the MassHealth basic program as of January 1, 2002.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2027, the executive office of health and human services may impose a cap on a per patient basis for adult dental services; provided, however, that such cap shall not be less than $1,750 and shall exempt emergency services. The office may impose additional exemptions to such cap.
(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2027, the health safety net office established in section 65 of chapter 118E of the General Laws may impose a cap on a per patient basis for adult dental services; provided, however, that such cap shall not be less than $1,750 and shall exempt emergency services. The office may impose additional exemptions to such cap.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "HDAP" shall mean the HIV Drug Assistance Program, established under the department of public health and funded in line item 4512-0106 of section 2 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025.
(b) Notwithstanding section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in Health Safety Net fiscal year 2026, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, and in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, may transfer to the department of public health or expend an amount not more than the amount required from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established in said section 66 of said chapter 118E, for services rendered to Health Safety Net patients participating in HDAP and any reasonable administrative costs associated with paying for services to such patients. The secretary of health and human services shall take into consideration supplemental rebates received by the commonwealth from drug manufacturers for drugs provided through HDAP.
(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health shall use any funds transferred or expended for HDAP from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund in Health Safety Net fiscal year 2026 exclusively for services rendered to Health Safety Net patients participating in HDAP and any reasonable administrative costs associated with paying for services to such patients.

(a) For the purposes of this section, "HDAP" shall mean the HIV Drug Assistance Program, established under the department of public health and funded in line item 4512-0106 of section 2.
(b) Notwithstanding section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, in Health Safety Net fiscal year 2027, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, and in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, may transfer to the department of public health or expend an amount not more than the amount required from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established in said section 66 of said chapter 118E, for services rendered to Health Safety Net patients participating in HDAP and any reasonable administrative costs associated with paying for services to such patients. The secretary of health and human services shall take into consideration supplemental rebates received by the commonwealth from drug manufacturers for drugs provided through HDAP.
(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health shall use all funds transferred or expended from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund in Health Safety Net fiscal year 2027 exclusively for services rendered to Health Safety Net patients participating in HDAP and any reasonable administrative costs associated with paying for services to such patients.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, shall transfer $37,500,000 from the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund established in section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws, inserted by section 2 of chapter 214 of the acts of 2024, to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, however, that such funds shall be used first to reduce the shortfall, as described in subsection (b) of section 69 of said chapter 118E, for health safety net fiscal year 2027 and that any remaining funds may be used to reduce the shortfall in any other open health safety net fiscal year; and provided further, that the amount equal to any federal financial participation revenues claimed and received by the commonwealth for eligible expenditures made from said Health Safety Net Trust Fund with these funds transferred from said Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund shall be credited to said Health Safety Net Trust Fund.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, shall transfer $8,000,000 from the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund established in section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws, inserted by section 2 of chapter 214 of the acts of 2024, to the General Fund.

Notwithstanding section 189 of chapter 149 of the General Laws, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, may transfer up to $15,000,000 of employer medical assistance contributions from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund established in section 2OOO of chapter 29 of the General Laws to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, however, that this transfer may be in addition to any other transfers from said Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to said Health Safety Net Trust Fund required in fiscal year 2027.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, may transfer not more than $15,000,000 from the prescription advantage program in line item 9110-1455 of section 2 and the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws in fiscal year 2027 to support the Medicare Saving or Medicare Buy-In programs established in section 25A of said chapter 118E; provided, however, that the secretary of health and human services shall certify to the house and senate committees on ways and means, not less than 45 days in advance of the transfer, in writing, the amount to be transferred and an explanation of the amount of expected savings to those programs resulting from the transfer.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, payments from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws may be made either as safety net care payments under the commonwealth's waiver pursuant to section 1115 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1315, or as an adjustment to service rate payments under Title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, or a combination thereof. Other federally-permissible funding mechanisms available for certain hospitals as defined by regulations of the executive office of health and human services may be used to reimburse up to $70,000,000 of uncompensated care pursuant to said section 66 and section 69 of said chapter 118E using sources distinct from the funding made available to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than October 1, 2026 and without further appropriation, the comptroller shall transfer from the General Fund to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws the greater of $45,000,000 or 1/12 of the total expenditures to hospitals and community health centers required pursuant to this act, for the purposes of making initial gross payments to qualifying acute care hospitals for the hospital fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. These payments shall be made to hospitals before, and in anticipation of, the payment by hospitals of their gross liability to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund. The comptroller shall transfer from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund to the General Fund, not later than June 30, 2027, the amount of the transfer authorized by this section and any allocation of that amount as certified by the director of the health safety net office.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in hospital fiscal year 2027, the office of inspector general may expend a total of $1,000,000 from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws for costs associated with maintaining a health safety net audit unit within the office. The unit shall oversee and examine the practices in hospitals including, but not limited to, the care of the uninsured and the resulting free charges. The unit shall study and review the Medicaid program under said chapter 118E including, but not limited to, a review of the program's eligibility requirements, utilization, claims administration and compliance with federal mandates. The inspector general shall submit a report to the senate and house committees on ways and means on the results of the audits and any other completed analyses not later than March 1, 2027.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, nursing facility rates for the period beginning on October 1, 2026 under section 13D of chapter 118E of the General Laws may be developed using the costs of calendar year 2023.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027, $123,450,000 shall be considered operating assistance and distributed to regional transit authorities from item 1595-6370 of section 2E. For fiscal year 2027, $94,000,000 of the amount transferred in item 1595-6370 of said section 2E shall be distributed based on fiscal year 2026 distributions in accordance with the updated fiscal year 2026 bilateral memorandum of understanding between each regional transit authority and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; provided, however, that each regional transit authority shall receive operating assistance from said item 1595-6370 of said section 2E of not less than the amount received in fiscal year 2026.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation may require each regional transit authority to provide data on ridership, customer service and satisfaction, asset management and financial performance, including farebox recovery, and shall compile any such collected data into a report on the performance of regional transit authorities and detail each authority's progress towards meeting the performance metrics established in each memorandum of understanding.

Notwithstanding section 59 of chapter 23K of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, 100 per cent of the revenue received from a category 1 license, as defined in section 2 of said chapter 23K, pursuant to subsection (a) of section 55 of said chapter 23K, in fiscal year 2027 shall be transferred as follows:
(i) 31.5 per cent to the Gaming Local Aid Fund established in section 63 of said chapter 23K;
(ii) 20 per cent to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established in section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 of the General Laws;
(iii) 20 per cent to the Education Fund established in section 64 of said chapter 23K;
(iv) 13 per cent to the Gaming Economic Development Fund established in section 2DDDD of said chapter 29;
(v) 5 per cent to the Public Health Trust Fund established in section 58 of said chapter 23K;
(vi) 4 per cent to the Community Mitigation Fund established in section 61 of said chapter 23K;
(vii) 2.5 per cent to the Race Horse Development Fund established in section 60 of said chapter 23K;
(viii) 2 per cent to the Massachusetts Cultural and Performing Arts Mitigation Trust Fund established in section 2HHHHH of said chapter 29; and
(ix) 2 per cent to the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund to fund tourist promotion agencies under subsection (b) of section 13T of chapter 23A of the General Laws.

(a) Notwithstanding section 5G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, the excess capital gains threshold for fiscal year 2027 shall be $2,250,000,000.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027, the comptroller shall transfer capital gains collected in excess of the threshold under section 5G of chapter 29 of the General Laws on a quarterly basis as follows: (i) 58.6 per cent to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund established in section 24 of chapter 32A of the General Laws; (ii) 20 per cent to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund established in section 2H of chapter 29 of the General Laws; (iii) 13.6 per cent to the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund established in subsection (e) of subdivision (8) of section 22 of chapter 32 of the General Laws; and (iv) 7.8 per cent to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund established in section 2HHHHHH of said chapter 29.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the amounts transferred pursuant to subdivision (1) of section 22C of chapter 32 of the General Laws shall be made available for the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund established in section 22 of said chapter 32. The amounts transferred pursuant to said subdivision (1) of said section 22C of said chapter 32 shall meet the commonwealth's obligations pursuant to said section 22C of said chapter 32, including retirement benefits payable by the state employees' retirement system and the state teachers' retirement system, for the costs associated with a 3 per cent cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to section 102 of said chapter 32, for the reimbursement of local retirement systems for previously authorized cost-of-living adjustments pursuant to said section 102 of said chapter 32 and for the costs of increased survivor benefits pursuant to chapter 389 of the acts of 1984. The state board of retirement and each city, town, county and district shall verify these costs, subject to rules that shall be adopted by the state treasurer. The state treasurer may make payments upon a transfer of funds to reimburse certain cities and towns for pensions of retired teachers, including any other obligation that the commonwealth has assumed on behalf of a retirement system other than the state employees' retirement system or the state teachers' retirement system, including the commonwealth's share of the amounts to be transferred pursuant to section 22B of said chapter 32. The payments under this section shall be made only pursuant to distribution of money from the Commonwealth's Pension Liability Fund and any distribution, and the payments for which distributions are required, shall be detailed in a written report prepared quarterly by the secretary of administration and finance and submitted to the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on public service in advance of the distribution. Distributions shall not be made in advance of the date on which a payment is actually to be made. If the amount transferred pursuant to said subdivision (1) of said section 22C of said chapter 32 exceeds the amount necessary to adequately fund the annual pension obligations, the excess amount shall be credited to the Pension Reserves Investment Trust Fund established in subdivision (8) of said section 22 of said chapter 32 to reduce the unfunded pension liability of the commonwealth.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027, the secretary of administration and finance shall direct the comptroller to take any measures necessary to retain within the General Fund interest earnings that would otherwise be deposited into or otherwise attributed to a fund, trust fund or other separate account, whether established administratively or by law, including a separate account established under section 6 of chapter 6A of the General Laws. The secretary and comptroller shall report to the senate and house committees on ways and means 45 days before any action under this section. The report shall certify that the secretary, in consultation with the comptroller, has determined that the balance, or a specified part of the balance, is not necessary for the purposes for which it was made available.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year 2027, all abandoned property net revenue as defined in section 5H of chapter 29 of the General Laws shall remain in the General Fund.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than December 31, 2026, the comptroller shall transfer $1,000,000 from the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund to the Workforce Productivity Subfund established in section 12 of chapter 175M of the General Laws.

Not later than November 9, 2026, the department of public health, in consultation with the executive office of housing and livable communities, shall adopt rules or regulations necessary to implement section 70.

Sections 51 to 62, inclusive, shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

Not later than January 1, 2027, the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the operational services division, shall create a model procurement template and a model contract for use by school districts for procurement of out-of-district transportation pursuant to subsection (b) of section 5A of chapter 71B of the General Laws. The department shall maintain the model documents in the database established in section 5A1/2 of chapter 71B of the General Laws, inserted by section 68.

The first auto body labor reimbursement rate survey required under section 232 of chapter 175 of the General Laws shall be conducted not later than January 1, 2027.

Except as otherwise provided, this act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.