Rep. D’Amico’s 2009-2010 Legislation
Economic Development
Roll Back Film Tax Credits (H3854)Film producers currently enjoy a 25% subsidy from the Commonwealth. The Department of Revenue (DOR) has concluded that the economic activity generated by the credits do not generate sufficient new tax revenue to cover the cost – we lose 85 cents of each dollar we “invest”. In a report examining the impact of the film incentives the DOR concludes that we spend $113 million on film subsidies but got back only $17.5 million in new tax revenue.
H3854 - An Act to protect taxpayers and essential state services would repeal the 2007 incentives, reverting to those that were in place in 2006. Included is a cap of $7 Million per production (Currently there are no limits). Taxpayers should not be asked to so generously support the film industry during a time of shrinking state revenues and deep program cuts.
Transparency and Accountability in Economic Development Spending (H333)Massachusetts invests heavily in economic development each year. However, spending is fragmented across many state and local agencies and authorities. It is therefore difficult to assess total spending, or to judge the benefits. The Economic Development and Fiscal Accountability Act (H333) addresses both these issues.
- Provides Transparency
- Requires uniform, centralized web reporting for all tax reductions, tax credits and subsidies
- Establishes reporting requirements on number of new jobs, benefits, and wages
- Establishes Standards and requires claw backs
- Wages must remain at or above 85% of the average wage for the industry and region (75% for small businesses)
- Employment may not be reduced by more than 10% over 5 years
- The subsidy per permanent, full-time job may not exceed $35,000.
(For more detail, see the fact sheet.)
Voter Reform
An Act establishing seventeen year-old primary voting (H568) would allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 and eligible to vote in a general or special election to vote in that election’s primary. Engaging young people in elections at an early age is important to creating regular voters and fostering life-long involvement in the democratic process.Environment
Dark Skies (H3064)Much of the energy used in outdoor lighting is not properly directed and radiates upward into the night sky. Each year, over $1 Billion in energy is wasted globally, millions of tons of green house gasses are needlessly generated, and the behavioral patterns of birds and other wildlife are adversely affected. An act to limit outdoor night lighting, conserve energy and reduce light pollution (H3064) would require that new outdoor lighting, paid for by the State, meet “dark sky” standards avoiding the scattering of light into the sky, and focusing it where it is needed.
An Act to promote small plot farming in the Commonwealth (H715)
In many parts of the world much of the food is grown on small plots. Tightening energy supplies will increase the importance of small scale farming in the future. This bill would extend agricultural support to plots as small as one acre as long as they generate at least $1,000 in verifiable revenue each year. Farmers frequently lease small plots of land to augment their acreage.
Business Regulation
An Act relative to towing storage (H234) would mandate that towing companies notify lien holders within 15 days of towing a vehicle. Currently, vehicles towed and abandoned by owners who default on their loans, may accrue thousands of dollars in storage fees before the lender is able to locate the vehicle and take possession.An Act relative to optometrists (H2036) would exempt optometrists from non-compete provisions of employment contracts.
Public Safety
An Act providing for distinctive registration plate for firefighters (H3191) would establish a special vanity plate available only to firefighters. The funds raised would be used to help fund the Massachusetts Firefighters Academy. During a state of emergency the plates would be used to identify firefighters who are authorized to travel on highways.