Section 135.02 - Project Schedules and Reporting(1) The commission may create guidelines under 205 CMR 135.00 to aid the commission in its review and monitoring of the project. Such guidelines will be shared with the licensee and may be amended as necessary by the commission.(2) The commission shall, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 23K, §§ 10 and 11 approve for each gaming licensee, a project schedule for the gaming licensee's capital investment in its gaming establishment and related infrastructure which includes: (a) all major stages of design and construction; including all permitting and approvals, design deliverables, site preparation, foundation, structure, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, exterior finish and fenestration, long lead items, insulation, interior finish and furnishings and landscaping, building commissioning and commissioning of gaming equipment and information technology systems.(b) For a Category 1 gaming establishment, a timeline for commencement of the final stage of construction pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, § 10(a); and(c) a timeline for the stage of construction at which the gaming licensee shall be approved to open for business or operate a slot machine pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, §§ 10(c) and 11(a).(3) Within the time frame provided in the award of the gaming license, the licensee shall provide to the commission for commission approval an affirmative action program of equal opportunity whereby the licensee establishes specific goals for the utilization of minorities, women and veterans on construction jobs and for contracting with minority, women or veteran owned businesses during either design or construction; provided, however that such goals shall be equal to or greater than the goals contained in Executive Office of Administration and Finance Administrative Bulletin Number 14.(4) If unforeseen and/or changed circumstances necessitate a change to a project schedule approved pursuant to 205 CMR 135.02(2) which will impact the completion date or requires a major change in the method or progress of construction, the gaming licensee may submit to the commission for its approval a revised project schedule, with a detailed statement of the unforeseen changed circumstances which justify the revised project schedule. If the commission approves such revised project schedule, it shall substitute and supersede the previously approved project schedule.(5) To ensure adherence to the project schedule approved pursuant to 205 CMR 135.02(2) or (4), the gaming licensee shall submit to the commission in a media, format and level of detail acceptable to the commission, quarterly a status report including: (a) the total estimated cost of construction of the project and related infrastructure improvements, including a sworn certification regarding costs incurred pursuant to 205 CMR 122.03: Costs Included in the Calculation of Capital Investment, and separately identifying detailed costs for design, land acquisition, site preparation and construction and off-site improvements;(b) a sworn certification regarding the capitalization of the gaming licensee, sufficient for the commission to determine, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, § 10(e) or 11(c), that the gaming licensee has adequate funds to complete the gaming establishment and related infrastructure improvements;(c) a copy of all design and construction contracts executed within the prior quarter by the gaming licensee to design and construct the gaming establishment and related infrastructure improvements;(d) a status report reflecting the progress of construction and certifying compliance with the approved project schedule for major stages of construction. In the event that the progress of construction does not comply with the project schedule approved pursuant to 205 CMR 135.02, the licensee shall submit a detailed plan to bring the progress of construction into compliance with the approved project schedule or submit a request for a revised project schedule pursuant to 205 CMR 135.02(4); and(e) a detailed statistical report pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, § 21(a)(23) on the number, gender and race, and veteran status of individuals by job classifications hired to perform labor as part of the construction of the gaming establishment and related infrastructure, and a comparison of this report with the goals established by the gaming licensee and commission pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, § 2l(a)(22). In the event the hiring of the aforementioned persons does not comply with the goals established, the licensee shall submit within 20 days of a request by the commission a response as to why the goals have not been achieved, identify any good faith efforts that have been undertaken to achieve those goals and provide a plan to bring the hiring into compliance with the goals.(f) a report describing the number of contracts, total dollar amounts contracted with and actually paid to minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises for design and construction of the gaming establishment and related infrastructure, and the total number and value of all subcontracts awarded to a minority, women and veteran owned business, and a comparison of these reports with the goals established by the gaming licensee and commission pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K, § 21(a)(2l). In the event the licensee's hiring of the aforementioned entities does not comply with the goals established the licensee shall submit within 20 days of a request by the commission a response as to why the goals have not been achieved, identify any good faith efforts that have been undertaken to achieve those goals and provide a plan to bring the the dollar amount contracted and spent into compliance with the goals.(6) The licensee shall have a continuing obligation, pursuant to 205 CMR 120.01(2) to timely provide to the commission an updated permits chart and all documents and information listed in 205 CMR 120.01: Permitting Requirements, as well as any updates to the MEPA process such that the commission is continuously apprised of all material developments with respect to all permits and approvals required for the gaming establishment. Pursuant to 205 CMR 120.01(1)(h) the licensee shall provide to the commission copies of any appeal within 20 days of filing, whether to a municipal or state entity or for judicial review, filed with respect to any permit of approval listed in 205 CMR 120.01(1) along with a copy of the docket sheet and each decision on any appeal.(7) In furtherance of specific goals for the utilization of minorities, women and veterans on construction jobs, the licensee shall send and provide a copy to the commission, to each labor union or representative of workers with which the licensee has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice advising the labor union or workers representative of the licensee's commitments pursuant to M.G.L. c. 23K § (15) and §§ 21(a)(21) and (22).(8) Prior to the gaming establishment opening for business, in furtherance of specific goals for the utilization of minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises as vendors in the provision of goods and services to the gaming establishment, the licensee shall provide to the commission an affirmative marketing plan in which the licensee identifies specific goals, expressed as an overall program goal applicable to the total dollar value of contracts entered into, for the utilization of minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises to participate as vendors in the provision of goods and services procured by the gaming establishment and any businesses operated as part of the gaming establishment; provided, however, that the specific goals for the utilization of such minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises shall be based on the availability of such minority business enterprises, women business enterprises and veteran business enterprises engaged in the type of work to be contracted by the gaming licensee.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1375, eff. 10/5/2018.