Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2374 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2508 FILED ON: 3/15/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2374
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Lydia Edwards
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 securing environmental justice in the city of Boston.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk 1 of 2
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2508 FILED ON: 3/15/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2374
18	18	By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2374) of Lydia Edwards (with
19	19	approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to the promulgation of zoning
20	20	rules and regulations in the city of Boston. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local
21	21	approval received]
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 securing environmental justice in the city of Boston.
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. Section 6 of Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, is hereby
31	31	2amended by striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following
32	32	3section:-
33	33	4 The Boston Zoning Commission shall in consultation with the state Environmental
34	34	5Advisory Council, Public Service Corporations, environmental justice advocates within one
35	35	6calendar year of enactment of this section, promulgate zoning rules and regulations to govern the
36	36	7review of filings petitions or proposals by public service corporations and the standards for
37	37	8environmental justice enforcement within the City of Boston’s building code.
38	38	9 SECTION 2. Section 7 of Chapter 665 of the Acts of 1956, as amended, is hereby
39	39	10amended by inserting at the conclusion of Section 7 of the following paragraph:- 2 of 2
40	40	11 Upon a determination that a use or a proposed use of a building structure, facility, or land
41	41	12in the City of Boston would impede the attainment of environmental rights afforded to residents
42	42	13of the Commonwealth pursuant to Article XCVII of the Massachusetts Constitution, or prevent
43	43	14the implementation of the Environmental Justice principles as defined in Chapter 8 of the Acts of
44	44	152021, or prevent the preservation and protection of the rights in tidelands of the inhabitants of the
45	45	16Commonwealth as defined in Chapter 91 of the General Laws, the Building Commissioner shall
46	46	17indicate the purpose, rationale, conditions and duration or permanency of such order, and provide
47	47	18instruction to public officers concerning the suspension or rescission of any permit, license or
48	48	19authorization associated with such use or proposed use. The Building Commissioner shall within
49	49	20one year of enforcement, submit a report that at the very minimum summarizes the enforcement
50	50	21process, number of complaints, any disparities, information about repeat offenders. This report
51	51	22shall be made public and presented to the City Council.
52	52	23 SECTION 3. The provisions of this ordinance are severable and if any provision, or
53	53	24portion thereof, should be held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of
54	54	25competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining
55	55	26provisions, which remain in full force and effect.