Massachusetts Ballot Questions
1 State Income Tax
The law that has been proposed would reduce the State income tax rate to 2.65% for all groups of taxable income. This would start either on January 1st, 2010 or after that date. The personal income tax that would apply to the income or estate gain given by a deceased family member or friends that would be received by married couples or individuals. The proposed law would not take affect on the tax due on the gain or income realized in the tax year until January 1st 2009. This law also states that if any of the parts are to be declared wrong, the other parts that are correct would stay in affect.
A YES VOTE would reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.65% for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2009, and would eliminate the tax for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010.
A NO VOTE would make no change in state income tax laws.
2 Possession of Marijuana
This new proposed law would replace the criminal penalties with a new system of civil penalties if you are caught with possession of an ounce or less of marijuana. Also it would not be put on the state's criminal recorded. Offenders who are 18 or older would have the marijuana taken away and a civil penalty of $100. Offenders who are under 18 would have the same forfeit of the marijuana and if they take a drug awareness program within a year of the incident a $100 penalty. If you are under 18 your parents would be contacted and given the information about the offense and given the option to send their child to the drug awareness program, which has been developed by Massachusetts' Department of Youth Services. These programs include ten hours of community service and at a minimum of four hours of instruction group about the use and abuse of marijuana and other drugs, warning about other substance abuse.
If the offender under 18 does not complete the program within one year of the offense could have the $100 fine increased to as much as $1,000. This would not happen if the offender is unable to pay the fine, if they cannot take the drug awareness class, or if there is not one available. The offenders parents would also be held liable for the increased fine. If the offender is under the age of 17 and has not completed the program it could also be a bias for a delinquency proceeding.
This law is accounting for the possession of one ounce or less or marijuana also including the possesion of one ounce or less of tetrahydrocannibinol also known as "THC", or having products or marijuana in the offenders body.
For the proposed law possessing one ounce or less of marijuana would not be grounds for local or state government entities, such as denying a student of financial aid, public housing, public financial assistance, the right to drive a car, or the opportunity to adopt a child or serve as a foster parent
The proposed law would not affect any existing laws, practices, or policies concerning operating a vehicle or other actions while under the influence of marijuana, unlawful possession of prescription forms of marijuana, or selling, manufacturing, or trafficking of marijuana.
Also the money that was received from the fine would go to the town or city where the offense happened.
A YES VOTE would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties.
A NO VOTE would make no change in state criminal laws concerning possession of marijuana.
3 Dog Racing
This proposed law would not let any dog racing or meetings of racing happen in Massachusetts where betting or gambling on the ability or placing of the dogs occur. Th State Racing Commission would prohibit any acceptance of any application or request for racing dates of dogs.
Any person who violates this proposed law can be required to pay a fine of no less that $20,000 to the commission. The money from the fine would be used for the Commissions administration. All other laws having to do with the racing of horses or dogs would be interpreted as if they only referred to horses, not dogs. These changes would take effect on January 1, 2010. Also the law states that if any of the parts are incorrect the other parts would stay in effect that were correct.
A YES VOTE would prohibit dog races on which betting or wagering occurs, effective January 1, 2010.
A NO VOTE would make no change in the laws governing dog racing.
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