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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 686 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 584
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 creating a special commission to scope a state grant or low interest loan program for
properties prone to flooding.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and MiddlesexPatrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/2/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 686 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 584
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 584) of Bruce E. Tarr and Patrick M.
O'Connor for legislation to establish a special commission to scope a state grant or low interest
loan program for properties prone to flooding. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 616 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 creating a special commission to scope a state grant or low interest loan program for
properties prone to flooding.
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. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law, there shall be a special
2commission, established and governed by section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, to scope
3a state grant or low-interest loan program for structural elevation or acquisition of properties
4prone to flooding in the commonwealth. Components of consideration for the structure of the
5program shall include: (i) funding sources; (ii) eligible expenses; (iii) applicant eligibility; (iv)
6the establishment of a cost-benefit analysis in determining applicant eligibility; (v) risks and
7hazards identified in the integrated state hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan and
8strategies to build resiliency; and (vi) program expenditures and pay outs. 2 of 3
9 (b) The special commission shall consist of: the secretary of energy and environmental
10affairs or a designee, who shall serve as the commission chair; 2 members of the house of
11representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the senate, 1
12of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; the chair of the state board of building
13regulation and standards or a designee; the director of the office of coastal zone management or a
14designee; 2 persons to be appointed by the director of the Massachusetts Emergency
15Management Agency, 1 of whom shall be a contractor with experience in home elevations and 1
16of whom shall be an insurance agent with knowledge in flood insurance and experience in
17guiding and consulting for mitigation activities; the acting state hazard mitigation officer of the
18state hazard mitigation team; the acting hazard mitigation grants supervisor of the state hazard
19mitigation team; a licensed lender with knowledge in flood insurance, 203K home loan lending
20and traditional loans used for mitigation activities who shall be appointed by the acting state
21hazard mitigation officer of the state hazard mitigation team; and 3 persons to be appointed by
22the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative from a statewide environmental group with
23experience in coastal resiliency strategies and nature based solutions, 1 of whom shall be a
24representative of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs with knowledge of
25climate change adaptation, and 1 of whom shall be a representative from the executive office of
26public safety and security with knowledge of the federal hazard mitigation grant program and
27experience with mitigation activities. The first meeting of the special commission shall take
28place not later than December 1, 2023.
29 (c) The special commission shall submit its preliminary draft of any recommendations or
30legislation to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on
31environment, natural resources and agriculture not later than September 1, 2021. The special 3 of 3
32commission shall submit its final draft of the program scope, together with any additional
33recommendations or drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect,
34by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint
35committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture not later than December 1, 2024