BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick's administration has unveiled a new plan for dealing with the mounting costs associated with the alleged mishandling of evidence at a state drug lab.
The plan was announced by Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez after some agencies affected by the crisis missed a Wednesday deadline for submitting cost estimates. He said others that did submit requests for "significant amounts" of funding failed to provide supporting information.
Gonzalez said Patrick will file an appropriations bill next week to cover the costs of the scandal for the next several months. The funds would be placed in a reserve fund controlled by the secretary. He could then transfer money to prosecutors, state agencies, or cities and towns that provide documentation of their costs related to the fallout from the lab crisis.
