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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3161 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3158 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Michelle L. Ciccolo |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act establishing the municipal utility corridor public access program. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michelle L. Ciccolo15th Middlesex1/19/2023 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3161 FILED ON: 1/20/2023 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3158 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Ciccolo of Lexington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3158) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Michelle L. Ciccolo that the Department of Public Utilities establish a municipal utility corridor |
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| 20 | 20 | | public access program. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2023-2024) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act establishing the municipal utility corridor public access program. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 25 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2section 23 the following section:- |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3 Section 24. (a) The Department of Public Utilities shall establish a municipal utility |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4corridor public access program. The program shall establish a process for a municipality to enter |
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| 33 | 33 | | 5into an agreement with an electric company, distribution company, generation company, |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6transmission company, or private railroad company that uses land or rights of way as a |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7transportation or utility corridor or for transmission service in said municipality, to permit public |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8access for transportation and recreational purposes without imposing a charge or fee. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 9 (b) The agreement shall include the type of uses that will be allowed, the party |
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| 38 | 38 | | 10responsible for trail construction and maintenance, roles and responsibilities of municipalities, |
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| 39 | 39 | | 11and other matters related to public access. 2 of 2 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 12 (c) In accordance with section 17c of chapter 21, an electric company, distribution |
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| 41 | 41 | | 13company, generation company, private railroad company, or transmission company shall not be |
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| 42 | 42 | | 14liable for personal injuries or property damage sustained by members of the public. |
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