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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1689 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 535
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Susan L. Moran
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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 a future blue economy.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Susan L. MoranPlymouth and BarnstableMarc R. PachecoThird Bristol and Plymouth1/30/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/30/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/17/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/22/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands2/23/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/6/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1689 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 535
By Ms. Moran, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 535) of Susan L. Moran, Marc R.
Pacheco, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for
legislation relative to a future blue economy. 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 relative to a future blue economy.
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 21 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after section
267, the following section:-
3 Section 68. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection shall establish a
4competitive grant program to provide funding to Massachusetts small businesses for the
5transition to a circular economy. Circular economy is defined as an economy that keeps material,
6products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. The department shall promulgate
7regulations to support the creation of the program. The department shall be authorized to accept
8applications from businesses that are incorporated in, are properly licensed to do business in, or
9have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made under this program should provide a
10measurable economic benefit to Massachusetts.
11 The department shall evaluate a list of criteria in awarding grant applications. The
12Department shall prioritize applications that fall under any of the following categories: 2 of 3
13applications that are from (i) certified minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises;
14(ii) businesses that are geographically located within an environmental justice population; and
15(iii) businesses that provide substantial benefit to environmental justice populations, as long as
16these applications meet all other necessary criteria. Environmental justice populations are
17defined in section 56 of chapter 8. The department is authorized to use its discretion to decide
18between applications of similar standing.
19 SECTION 2. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after
20section 28, the following section:-
21 Section 29. The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs shall establish a grant
22program to provide funding to Massachusetts non-profits, academic institutions, and businesses
23to conduct scientific research and the research and development of new technology created for
24the purpose of improving ocean health and the responsible use of the ocean. This funding may be
25used for scientific studies and other research, research and development of new technology,
26investment into existing beneficial technology, expansion of existing beneficial technology, or
27research into how the technology affects the Commonwealth, the state economy, or particular
28industries. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to support the creation of a
29grant program. The department shall accept applications from entities that are incorporated in,
30are properly licensed to do business in, or have a location in Massachusetts. All grants made
31under this program should provide a measurable economic benefit to the Massachusetts ocean
32economy.
33 In awarding grant funding, the Secretary shall prioritize projects with the most
34measurable benefit to the ocean environment, marine species, or coastal communities; projects 3 of 3
35using existing technology that is identified as the best available prototype in the field; projects
36with outcomes that promote equity and inclusivity; projects that promote the use of time-series
37data. Applications that satisfy one or more of these criteria shall be considered favorably in
38priority of awards for funding, so long as those applications meet all other necessary criteria. The
39Secretary is authorized to use her discretion to decide between applications of similar standing.
40 SECTION 3. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding, after section
411T, the following section:-
42 Section 1U. There shall be within the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
43Secondary Education a Blue Economy Education Fund to be used to provide funding to the
44Commonwealth’s high schools to expand educational development, workforce training, and job
45placement programs in blue-STEAM industries. Blue-STEAM industries are defined as ocean
46sector jobs in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
47 The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create an application
48process for interested high schools to apply to the Blue Economy Education Fund. All funding
49shall be prioritized to applications by high schools located within an environmental justice
50community or composed of a substantial number of students from environmental justice
51communities, as defined in section 62 of chapter 30 as amended by Chapter 8 of the Acts of
522021.