Bill
HD 4666
Creates the City of Cambridge Employment and Job Training Trust to fund and manage employment opportunities and training for Cambridge residents.
Overview
- Bill Number: HD 4666
- Title: An Act establishing the city of Cambridge employment and job training trust
- Purpose: Create a City of Cambridge Employment and Job Training Trust to support employment opportunities and job training for Cambridge residents.
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
- Introduced: May 12, 2025
- Local approval: Local approval received
What the bill would do
- Establishment of a Trust (the “Trust”) named the City of Cambridge Employment and Job Training Trust.
- Purpose: To assist in creating and maintaining employment opportunities for Cambridge residents through employment and job training services.
- Take effect: The act takes effect upon passage.
Governance and management
- Board of Trustees: 5 to 9 members, including ex officio the Cambridge City Manager or designee. Non-ex officio members are appointed by the City Manager and are designated as public agents.
- Powers and duties: The Board may receive and hold property; make grants and loans; sell or transfer Trust property; employ advisors and agents; pay for services; allocate income and principal; manage investments and securities; settle or pursue claims; and perform other powers necessary to fulfill the Trust’s purposes.
- Public status: The Trust is a public employer; trustees are public employees for purposes of Chapter 258 of the General Laws (workers’ compensation context) and, more broadly, the Trust is a municipal agency and a governmental body for relevant statutory provisions.
Finances and funding
- Funding sources: Monies paid to the Trust by public or private contributions, or via Cambridge Zoning Ordinance or other city ordinances, go directly into the Trust (not separately appropriated). General revenues allocated to the Trust become Trust property and are expended without further appropriation.
- Year-end funds: Any funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year remain Trust property.
Tax and legal status
- Tax exemption: The Trust is exempt from certain tax provisions under General Laws (sections related to personal property and income) and from typical property/income tax payment rules for the Commonwealth and subdivisions.
- Audits: The Trust must be audited annually by an independent auditor.
Relationships with city and laws
- Legal status: The Trust is a municipal agency and a board for purposes of relevant sections of Chapter 30A and Chapter 30B; however, certain agreements with city agencies and instrumentalities are exempt from Chapter 30B.
- Zoning linkage fee: The City may adopt an ordinance requiring an employment and job training linkage fee for certain projects. The ordinance would specify the fee amount, how it can be increased over time, and applicable uses.
Accountability and reporting
- Annual reporting: The Board must file a written report with the City Manager each year detailing activities and a full accounting of receipts and expenditures (and may do so upon request of the City Manager).
Timeline and next steps
- After introduction, the bill was referred to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. If advanced, it would proceed through the normal legislative process, with potential amendments before any passage and local approval.
Impact considerations
- For Cambridge residents: Expanded access to employment and job training opportunities funded through the Trust.
- For developers and projects: Possible linkage fees to fund employment and training initiatives.
- For City governance: An independent Trust with dedicated governance, budgeting, and reporting requirements, subject to annual audits and oversight.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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