An Act relative to life cycle costs for long term pavement solutions

Summary

This legislation would require the Department of Transportation to study the long term cost-effectiveness of pavement alternatives, specifically concrete for use in transportation projects. The language also requires that MassDOT conduct 4 demonstration projects annually that test different pavement designs, and analyze the results.  These results will be reported by MassDOT, and include comparisons of long-term costs, reduction of noise, friction, and ride quality.


An Act to clarify the net-worth measure of the corporate excise

Summary

To clarify the current law regarding the calculation used to determine the net-worth measure of the corporate excise.  AIM’s proposal seeks to clarify how the Department of Revenue calculates debt vs. equity calculation during the audit process, which has been inconsistent and seeks to affirm existing state and federal law regarding foreign owned companies.


An Act Relative to Smoking Cessation Agents

Summary

This legislation allows a licensed pharmacist to dispense Smoking Cessation Agents. Before dispensing Smoking Cessation Agents, a pharmacist shall complete a training program approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, which shall include but not be limited to proper documentation, quality assurance, and referral to additional services, including appropriate recommendation that the patient follow-up with a medical practitioner.


An Act improving the tax administrative laws of the Commonwealth

Summary

This legislation changes the administrative provisions of our tax laws and improves the tax code by: (a) encouraging settlement of cases instead of litigation; (b) allowing for an expeditious collection of revenues by providing a one month extension for combined filers; (c) making the sham transaction doctrine equitable and more aligned with the Internal Revenue Code; (d) restoring equal estimated quarterly payments of taxes; and (e) establishing a broad tax amnesty program.


An Act relative to equalizing the Department of Revenue interest rates

Summary

Under current law, a taxpayer that fails to make a timely payment is required to pay interest after the statutory due date.  The interest for such delinquent tax liability is the federal short-term rate, plus four percentage points, compounded daily.  In contrast, when the Department of Revenue owes a taxpayer a refund, the rate of interest is the federal short-term rate, plus two percentage points, computed as simple interest.  Moreover, the Department of Revenue gets 120 days from the last date for filing the tax return before interest applies. If the refund is mailed within the 120 days, DOR pays no interest.  This legislation restores equity to our tax code by subjecting the taxpayer and the Commonwealth to the same interest rate at the federal short-term rate, plus two percentage points, computed as simple interest.