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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3042 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 797
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Dylan A. Fernandes
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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 removing barriers to beach access.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Dylan A. FernandesBarnstable, Dukes and Nantucket1/17/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3042 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 797
By Representative Fernandes of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 797) of
Dylan A. Fernandes and Michelle M. DuBois relative to beach access and parking fees.
Environment and Natural Resources.
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 removing barriers to beach access.
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. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding the following section:
3 Section 72. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
5 “Excessive parking fees”, any fee that exceeds beach parking fees for residents of the
6commonwealth set by the department of conservation and recreation.
7 (b) No state agency or state authority shall make expenditures involving state monies to
8beaches that restrict access to residents or renters of the municipalities that control said beaches
9only.
10 (c) No state agency shall make expenditures involving state monies to beaches that
11charge excessive parking fees in parking lots dedicated to such beaches. 2 of 2
12 (d) A city or town shall not be eligible for any state or federal funds or grants
13administered by the commonwealth until such time as the municipality has provided for access to
14municipal beaches pursuant to subsection (b) and reduced excessive parking fees to an amount
15no greater than the highest beach parking charged by the commonwealth for residents of the
16commonwealth.