HB 0734

This bill establishes a pilot program to open the state house on Saturdays between July 4 and Columbus day. Tours shall be provided by volunteer docents, and the program is privately funded.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Pilot Program; State House Docent Program Established. There is established the state house docent program, a pilot program in which the state house shall be open to the public on Saturdays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., from July 4 to Columbus Day. On Saturdays, state house docents, or volunteer tour guides, shall provide guided tours of the state house.

2 State House Docents. The department of cultural resources, in conjunction with the state house visitor's center, shall designate an existing employee or hire a temporary, seasonal employee to coordinate and supervise the recruitment and training of state house docents. Self-guided tours of the state house shall not be permitted on Saturdays, and the tours shall be scheduled so that only one group may tour the building at a time. State house security issues shall be addressed with the cooperation of state house protective services staff, and 2 protective service staff members shall be present on Saturdays when the building is open to the public.

I. There is established a committee to oversee the state house docent program. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the joint legislative facilities committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Three members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the joint legislative facilities committee, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

III. The committee shall assess the effectiveness and success of the state house docent pilot program. The committee shall periodically solicit information from the department of cultural resources, the state house visitor's center, state house protective services, and the docents relative to the program's implementation and operation.

IV. The members of the committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

V. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for continuation or modification of the program to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the joint legislative facilities committee, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2005.

4 Acceptance of Gift, Grants, and Private Donations Authorized. The department of cultural resources is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and private donations for the purpose of implementing the state house docent program. No state funds shall be appropriated for the purpose of implementing the state house docent program.

5 Repeal. Sections 1-4 of this act, relative to the state house docent pilot program, are repealed.

The Department of Cultural Resources states this bill would require an employee to work one day per week for 15 weeks for the purposes of training and supervising volunteer docents relative to opening the State House on weekends from July 4th until Columbus Day. Assuming a salary at the State Historian, Labor Grade 23 level, the daily rate would total $151.50 per day for 15 days, plus benefits at 37% for a total annual cost of $3,113 in FY 2004. Assuming an increase of 6.5% in FY 2005 costs would total $3,315 in FY 2005 and FY 2006. The Department would also be authorized to accept gifts, grants, and private donations for the purposes of the State House docent program, but are unable to determine the amount of revenue that would be received at this time. The pilot program would be repealed on December 1, 2005 (FY 2006).

The Department of Administrative Services states this bill would require one part-time custodial employee to maintain the restrooms and other public areas clean and hazard free, and to replenish any required custodial supplies. The employee would be required to work 8 hours per weekend from July 4th until Columbus Day (15 weekends). The costs for the employee would total $75.19 per weekend assuming a pay rate of $8.73 per hour and part-time benefits at 7.65%. Assuming an annual inflation rate of 2.5%, costs would total $1,128 in FY 2004, $1,157 in FY 2005, and $1,185 in FY 2006.

The House Chief of Staff estimates two security officers would be required at a cost of $102.54 per day per officer, assuming salary of Labor Grade 4 of the Joint Legislative salary schedule, and benefits at 7.65%. The security officers would be required to work 15 days per year (Saturday for 15 weeks) for a total cost of $3,076 ($102.54 per day X 2 officers X 15 days per year). The House Chief of Staff assumes these costs would increase by 3% per year, and the gift shop would not be open during visiting hours.

The Senate Chief of Staff also estimates two security officers would be necessary during the specified visiting hours. The Senate Chief of Staff assumes one temporary seasonal employee to train and supervise volunteers would also be necessary at a cost of $8,225 ($2,063 per month X 4 months). An additional State Trooper would also be required by statute, at an annual cost of $4,125 ($275 per day X 15 days).