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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3799 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3789
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Manny Cruz
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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 relative to the use of public lands by community based organizations.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Manny Cruz7th Essex1/20/2023 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3799 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3789
By Representative Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3789) of Manny
Cruz relative to authorizing municipalities to waive certain fees for the use of municipal-owned
land by non-profit and charitable organizations. Municipalities and Regional Government.
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 relative to the use of public lands by community based organizations.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The general court finds and declares that it is in the best public interest of
2the commonwealth to promote the prosperity and general welfare of all citizens by authorizing
3municipalities in certain circumstances to waive fees they collect for the use of municipal owned
4land by non-profit and charitable organizations.
5 SECTION 2. Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
6is hereby amended by inserting after section 15C the following section:-
7 Section 15D. For any individual person or non-profit or charitable organization seeking
8to use municipal-owned land to hold an event, a municipality may waive any administrative fee,
9custodial fee or other fee it generally collects for the use of its land, upon a determination that the
10event would: (1) result in a community benefit; (2) be in the public interest of the
11commonwealth; and (3) carry a necessary and valid public purpose for which public money may
12be expended or invested.