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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3264 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3145
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act expanding community access to electric bicycles.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/20/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/23/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/20/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/13/2023Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/26/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3264 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3145
By Representative Blais of Deerfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3145) of
Natalie M. Blais and others that the department of Energy Resources establish the community
access to electric bicycles grant initiative. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act expanding community access to electric bicycles.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 25A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 11J. THE COMMONWEALTH COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ELECTRIC
3BICYCLES GRANT INITIATIVE
4 (a) The department of energy resources shall establish THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO
5ELECTRIC BICYCLES GRANT INITIATIVE to help finance bike share programs and
6ownership programs that municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations administer.
7 (b) A local municipality, business, or nonprofit organization awarded money under the
8grant initiative may use the money to purchase and maintain electric bicycles, equipment, and
9infrastructure for its bike share program or ownership program, pay labor costs related to
10implementation of the program, and cover the direct and indirect administrative costs that the
11local municipality, business, nonprofit organization, or a third-party contractor incurs in
12implementing the program. 2 of 2
13 (c) To be eligible to apply for money under the grant initiative, a municipality, business,
14or nonprofit organization must administer themselves, or contract with a third party to
15administer, a bike share program using a fleet of electric bicycles, or an ownership program
16offering an electric bicycle to a specific individual or household.
17 (d) In administering the grant initiative, the department of energy resources shall
18establish an application process for local municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations
19to apply for the money under the grant initiative. The department of energy resources shall
20develop criteria for awarding grant money; giving priority to local municipalities, businesses,
21and nonprofit organizations offering a program in one or more environmental justice or
22disproportionately impacted communities.
23 (e) The department of energy resources shall require that local municipalities, businesses,
24or nonprofit organizations provide at least a certain percentage of matching money for the
25initiative.
26 (f) The department of energy resources shall develop periodic reporting requirements for
27a grantee to demonstrate that the money awarded is being used in compliance with the purposes
28of this section, as well as procedures for addressing a grantee’s noncompliance with this section,
29including procedures for reimbursement of money awarded.
30 (g) The department of energy resources may use up to ten percent of the money in the
31fund to cover its direct and indirect costs incurred in administering the grant initiative in this
32section.