Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H957 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1536 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 957
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jessica Ann Giannino
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing a commission to study dredging needs for recreational boating in
13	13	Commonwealth waterways.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/15/2025 1 of 3
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1536 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 957
19	19	By Representative Giannino of Revere, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 957) of
20	20	Jessica Ann Giannino for an investigation by a special commission to study dredging needs for
21	21	recreational boating in Commonwealth waterways. Environment and Natural Resources.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act establishing a commission to study dredging needs for recreational boating in
28	28	Commonwealth waterways.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be established, under the Executive Office of Energy and
32	32	2Environmental Affairs, a commission to research and review dredging needs for recreational
33	33	3boating in Commonwealth waterways. Within one year, the Commission shall report to the
34	34	4legislature on recommendations for how to: (i) fund such dredging projects; (ii) streamline the
35	35	5permitting process for such dredging projects; (iii) reduce the costs associated with permitting
36	36	6such projects; and (iv) identify disposal options, all for the purpose of maintaining and, where
37	37	7appropriate, improving recreational boating access to the Commonwealth’s waterways. Special
38	38	8attention shall be given to Commonwealth owned sediments requiring dredging to maintain
39	39	9recreational boating access, irrespective of what entity owns or operates the boating facilities
40	40	10associated therewith.
41	41	11 (b) (1) The commission shall have 9 members: 1 member to be appointed by the
42	42	12governor, 1 member to be appointed by the secretary of energy and environmental affairs; 1 2 of 3
43	43	13member to be appointed by the president of the senate for a term of 2 years; 1 member to be
44	44	14appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives for a term of 2 years; 1 member to be
45	45	15appointed by the senate minority leader, for a term of 2 year; and 1 member to be appointed by
46	46	16the minority leader of the house of representatives; the Secretary of Energy and Environmental
47	47	17Affairs, ex-officio and the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, ex-officio. Each
48	48	18member of the commission shall be an expert with experience in at least one of the following
49	49	19fields: the business of recreational boating; environmental policy, public policy, economic
50	50	20development or ocean management. At least one member shall be a director of a statewide non-
51	51	21profit organization dedicated to the business of recreational boating. One of the members shall be
52	52	22appointed by the governor to serve as chairperson of the commission. The Executive Office of
53	53	23Energy and Environmental Affairs shall provide meeting space and administrative support to the
54	54	24commission.
55	55	25 (2) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services,
56	56	26other than as may be already provided for due to their position outside the commission. The
57	57	27commission may receive such funds to carry out its mission as may be authorized and
58	58	28appropriated or donated from time to time.
59	59	29 (3) The powers of the commission shall be advisory.
60	60	30 (4) The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance
61	61	31as the commission may require, which shall be provided as promptly as is reasonably practicable.
62	62	32The commission may also request such information from companies and organizations with state
63	63	33contracts that provide services relative to the scope of the commission, which shall also be
64	64	34provided as promptly as is reasonably practicable. 3 of 3
65	65	35 (5) The commission shall convene its first meeting within one month of appointment and
66	66	36shall submit its first report of recommendations not later than one year from appointment with
67	67	37the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward a copy of the report to
68	68	38the house and senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and
69	69	39Agriculture and the Governor.