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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 931 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 822
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kenneth I. Gordon
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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 Office of the State Climatologist.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kenneth I. Gordon21st Middlesex1/9/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/24/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/24/2023Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/25/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2023Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex1/26/2023Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/27/2023William C. Galvin6th Norfolk2/15/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 931 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 822
By Representative Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 822) of
Kenneth I. Gordon and others relative to the office of the state climatologist within the Executive
Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4062 OF 2021-2022.]
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 Office of the State Climatologist.
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 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 24 and inserting in the place thereof the following
3section:-
4 Section 24. There shall be an office of the state climatologist which shall be independent
5of the executive office and under the supervision and control of a state climatologist to be
6appointed by the secretary. The office of the state climatologist shall be housed by the University
7of Massachusetts system and shall: (i) gather and analyze data on climate conditions in the
8commonwealth; (ii) conduct and foster research concerning the climate in the commonwealth
9and look for opportunities for sponsored research concerning climate issues in the
10commonwealth; (iii) coordinate with the National Centers for Environmental Information and the 2 of 2
11Northeast Regional Climate Center both of the United States Department of Commerce/National
12Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Northeast Regional Climate Adaptation Science
13Center of the United States Department of the Interior, and the Northeast Climate Hub of the
14United States Department of Agriculture; and (iv) educate and inform the public on matters
15related to the climate. The office of the state climatologist shall advise branches of state and local
16government concerning the climate in the commonwealth and its implications for both economic
17and scientific needs in conjunction with existing and future environmental factors relating to the
18climate in the commonwealth. The office of the state climatologist shall maintain a liaison with
19state, academic, and scientific institutions and join federal and international climate interest
20groups. The state climatologist shall serve for a term of 5 years but may be reappointed. The
21office of the state climatologist shall be funded by the executive office.