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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 49 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 577
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 providing for alternative DPA compliance.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 49 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 577
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 577) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to
provide for alternative designated port authorities compliance. Environment and Natural
Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 533 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 providing for alternative DPA compliance.
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 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 5 the following section:-
3 SECTION 5A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary
4or an appointee shall, in conjunction with the special waterfront development oversight
5commission, comment on and approve proposals for development in Designated Port Authorities
6that do not meet strict compliance with said requirements in chapter 21A or 91.
7 SECTION 2. There shall be established a special waterfront development oversight
8commission to comment on and approve all requests from municipalities for proposals to
9develop and built in Designated Port Areas. 2 of 2
10 The commission shall have 7 members. The commission shall include: 1 members to be
11appointed by the governor, 1 member to be appointed by the secretary of energy and
12environmental affairs; 1 member to be appointed by the president of the senate for a term of 2
13years; 1 member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives for a term of 2
14years; 1 member to be appointed by the senate minority leader, for a term of 2 year; and 1
15member to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. Each member of
16the commission shall be an expert with experience in the fields of environmental policy, public
17policy, municipal administration, or economic development. One of the members shall be
18appointed by the governor to serve as chairperson of the commission.
19 The commission shall develop criteria for applicants to seek alternative compliance with
20the laws and regulations governing Designated Port Authorities. Said regulations shall not allow
21for the approval of any project that in the opinion of the commission undermines the integrity of
22our environment. Any project approved by the commission shall be submitted to the clerks of
23the house of representatives and the senate and the chairs of ranking members of the joint
24committee on municipalities and regional government. Said project shall not commence without
25approval from the general court.