Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 87 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1996 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "thereof", in line 1, the following words:- including trees planted in accordance with the provisions of section 7.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 87 is hereby further amended by striking out section 7, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 7. Cities and towns may appropriate money for the purpose of acquiring and planting shade trees in public ways. The tree warden, or a private organization acting with the written consent of the tree warden, may plant shade trees acquired with public or private funds in a public way, or if he deems it expedient, upon adjoining land at a distance not exceeding 20 feet from the layout of such public way for the purpose of improving, protecting, shading or ornamenting the same; provided, however, that the written consent of the owner of such adjoining land shall first be obtained.