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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3228 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 858
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Christopher M. Markey
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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 establishing a deer population control commission.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christopher M. Markey9th Bristol1/20/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/20/2023Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol1/23/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol1/23/2023Aaron L. Saunders7th Hampden1/25/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/28/2023Paul A. Schmid, III8th Bristol2/1/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3228 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 858
By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 858) of
Christopher M. Markey and others for an investigation and study by a special commission
(including members of the General Court) relative to deer population control. 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 establishing a deer population control commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary, there shall be established a
2commission called the deer population control commission, hereinafter referred to as the
3commission, for the purpose of identifying best practices and methods for controlling the deer
4population in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Berkshire, Hampden, Worcester, Franklin, and
5Hampshire Counties.
6 The commission shall be made up of 8 members: 1 member of the Senate, whom shall be
7appointed by the Senate President; 1 member of the House of Representatives, whom shall be
8appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 member representing local Rod and
9Gun Clubs, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Bow Hunters Association; 1 member
10representing the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, who shall be appointed by the
11Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Resources; 1 member representing the
12Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of 2 of 2
13the Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1 licensed automobile insurance broker representing the
14insurance industry, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance
15Agents.
16 The commission shall recommend best practices for controlling the Commonwealth’s
17deer population and methods for assisting farmers in preventing and combating property damage
18caused by deer. The commission shall file its findings and recommendations, together with
19drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the Clerks of the
20Senate and the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment,
21Natural Resources and Agriculture no later than March 1, 2024.