The mission of MNN’s public policy work is to advocate on behalf of the nonprofit sector and to influence public policy for the benefit of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve:

• preserving and promoting a favorable legal and regulatory environment for nonprofits
• educating and encouraging nonprofit's to engage in advocacy efforts for their own causes
• raising public awareness statewide of the nonprofit sector

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides a foundation for future economic growth in key areas such as health care, clean energy, education, and infrastructure. In Massachusetts, many of the initiatives directly affect the nonprofit sector.  Listed below are resources pertaining to the Commonwealth's stimulus as well as what the MNN is doing to strengthen and advocate for the nonprofit sector.  The MNN produces a bi-month newsletter with breaking economic stimulus news.  To sign up for this please email info@massnonprofitnet.org
To view past MNN Newsletters (pdfs on our web site)

For more analysis of the legislation:

• Grants.gov (www.grants.gov)
• Independent Sector (www.independentsecotr.org)
• State of MA (www.mass.gov)
• Nonprofit Congress (www.nonprofticongress.org)
• Recovery.gov (recovery.gov)

2009 Massachusetts Nonprofit Network State Legislative Priorities

To contact your state legislator about these measures ( for a list by town  http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm)

H. 3853 An Act to Improve the Laws Relating to Ethics and Lobbying
Overview:  Filed by the Governor to address some of the situations to address ethics and lobbying in government. Now filed as amended and extended by House , includes campaign finance. The measure is expected to be brought before in the Senate in early May.

• Creates higher fines for violations– up to 10k per violation. Adds new subpoena and civil enforcement powers to Attorney General and Secretary of State.
• Doubles the number of lobbying reports that need to be filed– will have to file a report every 3 months. Cuts in half the hours that an individual can lobby before having to become a registered lobbyist. Raises the lobbyist registration fee from $100/year to $1,000 per year. Defines lobbying much more broadly and includes not just time spent contacting legislators, but all the strategy and preparation time as well. Requires much more detail for each report including each bill hours spent in lobbying according to this new definition, position on the bill, who was contacted and how, etc.   MMN would like to see nonprofits exempt from this provision as they are already regulated by the federal government. 
  

H. 325 An Act to update public charities law
Overview:

• Increases penalties for not registering your nonprofit with the Attorney General’s Public Charities Division
• Increases penalties for not filing required annual reports with the Attorney General’s Public Charities Division
• Makes it easier for non-operating nonprofits to legally dissolve without having to petition the Supreme Judicial Court (and ends reporting requirements) as is currently the case. The AG estimates that there are nearly 20,000 nonprofits on the books here in Massachusetts, many are defunct.
  MNN position:
• This MNN supports this measure but it should be amended to make the fines more in line with the resources of nonprofit organizations.  Making it easier for nonprofits to dissolve will help end confusion around the sector and allow people to easily comply with state law.
  This measure was sponsored by Rep Marty Waltz.  A hearing has not yet been scheduled

H.78 An Act to Provide Retirement Options for Nonprofit Organizations
Overview:

• Allows the Treasurer of the Commonwealth to offer a new service: the management of retirement plans (i.e. contributions by nonprofit employees and employers). A successful program is already in place for municipalities. 30 towns have already joined this program.
• For nonprofit employees, the program would be not defined-benefit plans like exist with public employees, but set up like the 401k plans of the private sector.
  MNN position:  The MNN supports this measure. Sponsor:  State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill.   A hearing on this bill has not yet been scheduled.

Senate No. 1783 An Act to Relative to the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds
Overview:

• UPMIFA strengthens management of endowments and allows for spending levels that are more responsive to fiscal climate, both in allowing for growth and in expenditure, and in carrying out the intent of the donor
  MNN position:  The MNN supports this measure. The measure is sponsored by Sen. O’Leary

2008 Efforts

Defeated the income tax repeal initiative on the November ballot!

The MNN coordinated with many other organizations throughout the state to defeat the income tax repeal initiative on the November ballot. The MNN joined Coalition for Our Communities, a group working to educate Massachusetts citizens about the disastrous effects of income tax repeal. Had the income tax been repealed, the state budget would have been cut 40%. Many nonprofits would lose the state support needed to carry out their critical missions, which would have a drastic effect on the quality of life in all our communities.

MNN Members met with Governor Deval Patrick around mid year budget cuts (Called 9 C powers)

Letter sent to Governor Patrick

Eased financial regulatory burden for small nonprofits (H.274)

Signed into state law in October, 2008.  Nonprofits or public charities all across Massachusetts who received more than $100,000 in gross support and revenue during a fiscal year are legally required to file a financial statement with their annual report with the Public Charities Division of the Commonwealth’s Attorney General's office. 

Cost of College contained for nonprofit employees (HR2669)

Passed into federal law in 2008.  This measure is designed solve one of the key workforce and career issues of nonprofits which is the inability of graduates to pursue careers of service due to the high indebtedness they must carry to finance their educa­tion. It reduces the federal loan indebtedness by up to 25% per year for young people who choose to enter hard-to-staff careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Society will now be better able to fill the personnel slots needed for services provided by the public and nonprofit sectors The public and nonprofit sectors will be able to find highly qualified people at costs they can manage, without losing the “best and the brightest” to the private sector.

For more information on this law go to http://www.fsahelp.ed.gov/cancellation.html#public look under public employee loan forgiveness. As of this writing the final regulations are not complete.

Letter sent to President Bush

Public Awareness Campaign

• Community television programming
• Sample Op-Eds
• Statewide Nonprofit Awareness Day
• Public Service Announcements
• Special newspaper inserts telling the stories of clients and providers