Governor Patrick Signs FY13 Budget - Includes Major CPA Legislation Changes
July 9, 2012: In a noontime ceremony at the State House yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick signed the FY2013 state budget which included the long-awaited CPA legislation.
The Governor made no amendments or vetoes to the CPA sections included in the budget. The legislation also included the additional $25 million in funding for the statewide CPA Trust Fund from the FY 2013 budget surplus. Legislative leaders have indicated their full intention to provide $25 million from the budget surplus in future years, as well.
The legislation passed yesterday amends eight different sections of the CPA statute, and the Coalition has prepared two documents that will help explain the major changes:
- A red-line version of the CPA statute, as amended, with all changes highlighted
- A companion section-by-section that provides short explanations for the major changes
We are grateful to Patrick-Murray administration for their support of CPA, as well as the lead sponsors of the legislation, Representative Stephen Kulik and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem. In addition, we appreciate the support of the legislative leadership team including Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray, House Committee on Ways & Means Chair Brian Dempsey, Senate Ways & Means Chair Stephen Brewer, House Minority Leader Brad Jones and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. Lastly, we thank the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business for their work on the legislation, led by House Chair Linda Dorcena Forry and Senate Chair Sal DiDomenico.
Bill History
The Community Preservation Coalition has been advocating for passage of An Act to Sustain Community Preservation - a bill designed to stabilize and strengthen the Community Preservation Act. The bill cleared an important hurdle in early June 2011, when the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business gave it a favorable recommendation. The bill was then forwarded on to the House Committee on Ways and Means, and became known by its House number, HB 765. The bill was then filed as an amendment to the House version of the FY 2013 state budget in April 2012, passing with a change to the funding source. The Senate changed the funding source yet again, and passed the legislation as part of its budget debate in May, 2012. The two versions were reviewed by a conference committee, which revised the funding source yet again, with the final version including a one-time $25 million transfer to statewide CPA Trust Fund in the fall of 2013. The House and Senate voted to approve the conference committee report on June 28, 2012 and Governor Deval Patrick signed the legislation into law on July 8, 2012, as part of the FY 2013 state budget.
Press Coverage
- "Officials hail CPA overhaul despite new curb on spending for artificial turf," by John Laidler, Boston Globe North. July 29, 2012
- "Gov. Deval Patrick approves more money, overhaul for Community Preservation Act law in Massachusetts," by Dan Ring, masslive.com July 29, 2012
- "Senate finds $5M for Community Preservation Act in mystery closet," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service. May 24, 2012
- "Massachusetts Senate weighs vote critical for open space, historic preservation," by Dan Ring, masslive.com May 20, 2012
- "State may boost Community Preservation Act funding," by John Laidler, Boston Globe North. May 10, 2012
- "Bill would ease CPA fund use," by Calvin Hennick, Boston Globe West. May 10, 2012
- "Senators press for CPA changes adopted by house," by Michael Norton, State House News Service. May 2, 2012
- "OUR OPINION: Bill would be a boon for older recreation facilities," by the Patriot Ledger. April 24, 2012
- "House adopts reforms to CPA to expand use and funding for preservation," by Matt Murphy. State House News Service. April 23, 2012
- "Editorial: Legislature should shore up the CPA," by the MetroWest Daily News. April 22, 2012
- "Boston-Area lawmakers recognized for community planning," by Johanna Kaiser. boston.com. January 6, 2012
- "Guest View: Legislature should improve community preservation for cities," by Jack Clarke. South Coast Today. December 21, 2011
- "Advocates for community preservation in Massachusetts seek ways to increase state matching dollars," by Dan Ring. The Republican. October 29, 2011.
- "Editorial: Building a Better CPA," by the MetroWest Daily News and the Patriot Ledger. Oct 9 and 11, 2011.
- "Creem bill to reform Community Preservation Act advances again," by David Riley. Wicked Local Newton. April 28, 2011.
Further Resources
- CPA changes signed into law: Coalition press release
- Red-line version of the CPA statute as amended
- Companion section-by-section with short explanations of the major changes
- CPA Legislation as passed by the Massachusetts Legislature on 06/28/12
- A letter to the Conference Committee from the Community Preservation Coalition
- State House News Transcript of the 4/23 House session passing Amendment #737
- State House News Transcript of the 5/23 Senate session passing Amendment #62
- Letter from groups supporting CPA to House Leadership
- Summary of An Act to Sustain Community Preservation
- Text of Amendment #737 - CPA Legislation as passed by the House
- Text of An Act to Sustain Community Preservation, as filed
- Legislative Sponsors for the 2011-2012 legislative session
- Economic Benefits of CPA