Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H846 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2314 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 846
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kathleen R. LaNatra
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to a future blue economy.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth1/19/2023Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol1/25/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/26/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/26/2023Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/27/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023Marc R. PachecoThird Bristol and Plymouth2/10/2023Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk2/14/2023Dylan A. FernandesBarnstable, Dukes and Nantucket2/15/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/16/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/8/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2314 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 846
18	18	By Representative LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 846) of
19	19	Kathleen R. LaNatra and others that the Department of Environmental Protection provide grants
20	20	to small businesses to encourage keeping material, products, and services in circulation for as
21	21	long as possible. Environment and Natural Resources.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to a future blue economy.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section
31	31	267, the following section:-
32	32	3 Section 68. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection shall establish a
33	33	4competitive grant program to provide funding to Massachusetts small businesses for the
34	34	5transition to a circular economy. Circular economy is defined as an economy that keeps material,
35	35	6products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. The department shall promulgate
36	36	7regulations to support the creation of the program. The department shall be authorized to accept
37	37	8applications from businesses that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or
38	38	9have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a
39	39	10measurable economic benefit to Massachusetts. 2 of 3
40	40	11 The department shall evaluate a list of criteria in awarding grant applications. The
41	41	12Department shall prioritize applications that fall under any of the following categories:
42	42	13applications that are from (i) certified minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises;
43	43	14(ii) businesses that are geographically located within an environmental justice population; and
44	44	15(iii) businesses that provide substantial benefit to environmental justice populations, as long as
45	45	16these applications meet all other necessary criteria. Environmental justice populations are
46	46	17defined in section 56 of chapter 8. The department is authorized to use its discretion to decide
47	47	18between applications of similar standing.
48	48	19 SECTION 2. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after
49	49	20section 28, the following section:-
50	50	21 Section 29. The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs shall establish a grant
51	51	22program to provide funding to Massachusetts non-profits, academic institutions, and businesses
52	52	23to conduct scientific research and the research and development of new technology created for
53	53	24the purpose of improving ocean health and the responsible use of the ocean. This funding may be
54	54	25used for scientific studies and other research, research and development of new technology,
55	55	26investment into existing beneficial technology, expansion of existing beneficial technology, or
56	56	27research into how the technology affects the Commonwealth, the state economy, or particular
57	57	28industries. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to support the creation of a
58	58	29grant program. The department shall accept applications from entities that are incorporated in,
59	59	30are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made
60	60	31under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to the Massachusetts ocean
61	61	32economy. 3 of 3
62	62	33 In awarding grant funding, the Secretary shall prioritize projects with the most
63	63	34measurable benefit to the ocean environment, marine species, or coastal communities; projects
64	64	35using existing technology that is identified as the best available prototype in the field; projects
65	65	36with outcomes that promote equity and inclusivity; projects that promote the use of time-series
66	66	37data. Applications that satisfy one or more of these criteria shall be considered favorably in
67	67	38priority of awards for funding, so long as those applications meet all other necessary criteria. The
68	68	39Secretary is authorized to use her discretion to decide between applications of similar standing.
69	69	40 SECTION 3. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding, after section
70	70	411T, the following section:-
71	71	42 Section 1U. There shall be within the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
72	72	43Secondary Education a Blue Economy Education Fund to be used to provide funding to the
73	73	44Commonwealth’s high schools to expand educational development, workforce training, and job
74	74	45placement programs in blue-STEAM industries. Blue-STEAM industries are defined as ocean
75	75	46sector jobs in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
76	76	47 The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create an application
77	77	48process for interested high schools to apply to the Blue Economy Education Fund. All funding
78	78	49shall be prioritized to applications by high schools located within an environmental justice
79	79	50community or composed of a substantial number of students from environmental justice
80	80	51communities, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30 as amended by Chapter 8 of the Acts of
81	81	522021.