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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 47 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bruce E. Tarr
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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 pesticide applications.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 47 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 575) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation
relative to pesticide applications. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 531 OF 2019-2020.]
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 pesticide applications.
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. The Massachusetts Pesticide Board, in consultation with the State
2Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board, is hereby authorized and directed to provide by
3regulation for alternative means by which private property may be designated for exclusion from
4wide area applications of pesticides and mosquito control applications of pesticides approved by
5the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board under 333 CMR 13.03, in lieu of the
6submission of a certified letter to the clerk of the municipality in which the property is located.
7Said alternatives shall include, but need not be limited to (i) allowing municipalities to include an
8“opt out” provision on their annual city or town census forms by which residents can elect to
9exclude their property from such applications of pesticides, and (ii) allowing residents to submit
10a hand-delivered letter to the municipal clerk that includes the name, address and telephone
11number (if any) of the person requesting the exclusion, the address of the property to be 2 of 2
12excluded, and a description of the types of pesticide application programs for which exclusion in
13requested. Said changes to 333 CMR 13.03 shall be implemented at least 90 days in advance of
14the commencement of the 2023 pesticide spraying season.