Amendments to the CPA
Did you know that the CPA legislation was amended three times in the legislative session that just ended? The changes clarified that CPA funds can be used to preserve historic documents, added the word “acquisition” to the allowable uses for community housing, and allowed for citizens living in buildings with a co-op form of ownership to apply for CPA exemptions.
Here is a recap of the 2006 amendments:
HB 1680 (March 2006): This bill changed the definition of “Historic Resources” to specifically allow CPA funds to be used to preserve historic documents or artifacts. Many communities have since approved CPA projects to help preserve the wonderful historical documents that reside in the vaults of City and Town Clerks.
SB 167 (September 2006): The original CPA legislation allowed for the “acquisition” of open space, historic and recreational resources, but curiously, the word “acquisition” was not included among the permitted uses for community housing funds. SB 167 added the word “acquire” to the allowable uses for CPA housing funds contained in Section 5.
SB 2725 (December 2006): One of the very last bills signed by outgoing Governor Mitt Romney was a CPA amendment! This addition makes it possible for CPA communities to grant the low income/senior exemption to citizens who live in buildings with a co-op form of ownership. This type of real estate ownership structure is relatively rare in Massachusetts , so most CPA communities have not faced this issue in the past.
With all the changes to the CPA in 2006, your copy of the legislation is probably out of date! You can download a new copy of the entire CPA law, including every amendment since 2002, by clicking below.