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H 3592

Bond, credit for time served

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gil Gatch and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes PLACE, a 0.5% set-aside fund for public art on Commonwealth projects (capped at $300,000 per project) to integrate art and boost local culture and economy.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
0
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Bill Summary · H 3592

Summary — H.3592 (House No. 3592): "An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement"

Note on source text: The primary bill text filed as House No. 3592 (sponsored by Representatives Mary S. Keefe and Steven Ultrino) concerns a statewide public art program in Massachusetts. The provided document also contains an unrelated pasted South Carolina bill regarding credit for time served while on bond; that text appears accidental and is not part of H.3592. This summary focuses on H.3592 (the Massachusetts public art proposal) and flags the extraneous content.

Purpose and intent

H.3592 would establish a statewide program—called the Program for Local Art and Community Engagement (PLACE)—to integrate public art into Commonwealth-owned building and infrastructure projects, promote cultural diversity in the built environment, increase civic participation, and support local economic and tourism benefits.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the PLACE Commission within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
    • Membership: 9 specified seats including 3 gubernatorial/legislative appointees who are artists or representatives of nonprofits/community organizations with public art experience; ex officio or designee members including the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; appointed members from Mass. College of Art and Design, Mass. Association of Community Development Corporations, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
    • Co-chairs: Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities (or designee) and Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council (or designee).
    • Meetings: At least quarterly; appointive members serve three-year staggered terms, eligible for reappointment but limited to two consecutive terms; members serve without compensation.
  • Creates the PLACE Fund to finance public art projects.
    • Funding source: 0.5% (one-half of one percent) of public funds allocated for construction or renovation of any Commonwealth-owned building/property, subject to a per-project cap of $300,000.
    • The $300,000 cap is adjusted annually on July 1 by the prior 12-month growth rate of an inflation index.
    • Private contributions permitted. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities serves as treasurer/custodian of the Fund.
  • Administration and staffing
    • The PLACE Commission must contract with the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) or another qualified organization to administer the Commission and serve as secretary for meetings.
    • MCC-appointed staff (with Commission approval) will carry out administrative duties; salaries for these staff are paid from the PLACE Fund.
    • The Commission may terminate MCC’s role and contract with another qualified organization if MCC fails to perform, ceases to exist, or for just cause, with required written notification to relevant legislative committee chairs explaining the change.
    • The administrator’s contract must address rules and guidelines, technical assistance for applicants, application review and evaluation, and recommendations for grants.
  • Rulemaking and transparency
    • The Commission will adopt rules for the Fund; copies and any amendments must be provided to the clerks of the House and Senate and to several key legislative committee chairs.

What is not included / truncated

Portion (c) of the bill text in the provided document is truncated; therefore further procedural or grant-distribution details (eligibility criteria, grant sizes/prioritization, reporting requirements, timeline for awards, etc.) could not be summarized because they were not included.

Who would be affected

  • Artists, arts organizations, nonprofit and community groups involved in public art.
  • Municipalities and communities that host Commonwealth-owned construction or renovation projects.
  • State agencies managing capital projects (Capital Asset Management, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities).
  • Massachusetts Cultural Council (administration role and staff funding).
  • Contractors and designers working on state-funded construction projects (may need to coordinate with PLACE requirements).
  • State capital project budgets (0.5% set-aside per qualifying state-funded project, up to the per-project cap).

Fiscal implications

  • Mandatory set-aside equal to 0.5% of construction or renovation funds for Commonwealth-owned projects, capped at $300,000 per project (cap indexed annually). Exact statewide fiscal impact depends on the volume and value of capital projects; private donations may supplement the PLACE Fund.
  • Administrative staff salaries paid from the PLACE Fund.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Prefiled: 12/12/2024
  • Introduced/read first time: 1/14/2025
  • Referred to Committee on Judiciary: 1/14/2025 (document also shows referral to Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development on 2/27/2025)
  • Senate concurred: 2/27/2025 (notation in actions)
  • Hearing scheduled (per docket): 10/21/2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM in B-2
  • Current status (per provided record): Referred to committee; hearing scheduled.

If you would like, I can:
- Draft a concise one-page explainer for community stakeholders or municipal officials.
- Flag likely open questions to be answered by the full bill text (e.g., grant eligibility, selection criteria, reporting/accountability measures) and recommend items to look for in the missing/truncated section.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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