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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 550 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1323
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael F. Rush
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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 to support the equitable utilization of third party consultants in land use determinations.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and SuffolkPaul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 550 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1323
By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1323) of Michael F. Rush and Paul
McMurtry for legislation to support the equitable utilization of third party consultants in land use
determinations. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1359 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 to support the equitable utilization of third party consultants in land use determinations.
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. Section 53G of chapter 44, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition of the
2General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following:-
3 Such rules shall require that the city or town establish and update as necessary a list of
4approved outside consultants having the minimum qualifications in one or more fields in which
5the local permitting boards or commission reasonably expect to require outside consultants in
6reviewing applications. The list shall be certified by the city clerk or town clerk and shall contain
7not less than three outside consultants in each field. The applicant shall have the right to select
8the outside consultant(s) from the certified list and to request and receive a proposal from each
9consultant prior to making such selection. An applicant or petitioner shall not be charged with
10the travel costs of an outside consultant. Where a proposed project requires the review and 2 of 2
11approval of more than one local board, commission, or official, the respective local boards,
12commissions, and officials shall coordinate in their use of outside consultants in order to avoid
13unnecessary duplication.