1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 572 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 619
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis
_________________
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 protecting aquatic and semiaquatic wildlife on beaches.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 572 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 619
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 619) of Jason M. Lewis for
legislation to require the department of conservation and recreation to create signage informing
the public how to properly act when coming in contact with stranded aquatic wildlife and
semiaquatic wildlife. Environment and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to protecting aquatic and semiaquatic wildlife on beaches.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 94 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 64 the
2following section:-
3 Section 65. (a) Subject to appropriation, the department of conservation and recreation
4shall create signage informing the public how to properly act when coming in contact with
5stranded aquatic wildlife and semiaquatic wildlife, such as seals, which the public may find lying
6on a beach.
7 (b) Signage shall be placed on beaches near entry points or as the department of
8conservation deems necessary to protect the health of public and any wildlife.
9 (c) The signage shall include the following information: (i) general information about the
10aquatic and semiaquatic wildlife the public may find in the immediate area along the beach as
11well as which species of wildlife may be in need of assistance if found; (ii) an appropriate phone 2 of 2
12number to call if any wildlife is in need of assistance; (iii) a note of caution to the public not to
13directly engage with the wildlife on the beach for their own safety and the safety of the wildlife;
14and (iv) any other information that may be helpful to the public.