1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1860 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2265
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Christopher Richard Flanagan
_________________
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 pre-service training for members of local boards and commissions.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christopher Richard Flanagan1st Barnstable1/15/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1860 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2265
By Representative Flanagan of Dennis, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2265) of
Christopher Richard Flanagan relative to providing for pre-service training for members of local
boards and commissions. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2047 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act providing for pre-service training for members of local boards and commissions.
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 17 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-
3 7B. The department shall establish, conduct and maintain an annual program of education
4and training for all new members of local boards of health; provided, however, that the
5department shall consult with the Massachusetts Municipal Association in the development of
6said program; provided, further, that the department may contract with the Massachusetts
7Association of Boards of Health to provide such education and training. All education and
8training courses shall be free of charge to board members and shall be offered in various
9locations throughout the commonwealth and by online only methods. 2 of 3
10 SECTION 2. Chapter 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official
11Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section fifteen the following new section:-
12 15A. The department of environmental protection shall establish, conduct and maintain
13an annual program of education and training for all new members of local conservation
14commissions; provided, however, that the department shall consult with the Massachusetts
15Municipal Association in the development of said program; provided, further, that the
16department may contract with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions to
17provide such education and training. All education and training courses shall be free of charge to
18commission members and shall be offered in various locations throughout the commonwealth
19and by online only methods.
20 SECTION 3. Section 3 of Chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
21Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new
22subsection:-
23 (w) establish, conduct and maintain an annual program of education and training for all
24new members of local planning boards and zoning boards of appeals; provided, however that the
25department shall consult with the Massachusetts Municipal Association regarding in
26development of said program; provided, further, the department may contract with the
27Massachusetts Citizen Planning Training Collaborative at the University of Massachusetts to
28provide such education and training. All education and training courses shall be free of charge to
29board members and shall be offered in various locations throughout the commonwealth and by
30online only methods. 3 of 3
31 SECTION 4. Section 8C of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
32Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-
33 The members of the commission shall complete such training programs conducted or
34sponsored by the department of environmental protection under the provisions of Section 15A of
35Chapter 21A prior to their service on the commission.
36 SECTION 5. Section 12 of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
37Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-
38 The members of the board shall complete such training programs conducted or sponsored
39by the department of housing and community development under the provisions of Section 3 of
40Chapter 23B prior to their service on the board.
41 SECTION 6. Section 81A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
42Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-
43 The members of the board shall complete such training programs conducted or sponsored
44by the department of housing and community development under the provisions of Section 3 of
45Chapter 23B prior to their service on the board.
46 SECTION 7. Section 26 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018
47Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the following new
48sentence:- The members of the board shall complete such training programs conducted or
49sponsored by the department of public health under the provisions of Section 7B of Chapter 17
50prior to their service on the board.