HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3855        FILED ON: 1/16/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3139

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail..

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

Chapter 161B of the General Laws as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 28.  (a) The secretary, in cooperation with the executive director of the office of travel and tourism, in this section called “executive director”, shall develop and implement a “Women’s Rights History Trail” program.  Said program shall promote education and awareness of the struggle for women’s rights throughout history.   

(b) The women’s rights history trail shall include, but shall not be limited to properties and sites that tell the story of the 72 year struggle for women’s suffrage.  The secretary and executive director shall seek the advice of local government officials or entities and interested groups to identify properties and sites that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women’s rights and women’s suffrage to be a part of the trail. These properties and sites shall include, but be limited to, the Susan B. Anthony House located in the town of Adams, the Orchard House located in the town of Concord, and Brinley Hall located in the city of Worcester.  The secretary and executive director shall develop the women’s rights history trail so that it is relatively simple and easy to follow for patrons. 

(c) The secretary and executive director shall produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials regarding the trail route, such as handbooks, maps, exhibits, signs, interpretive guides, and electronic information. 

(d) The executive director shall develop vacation itineraries based on the women’s rights history trail, which shall identify for visitors surrounding attractions, restaurants, farms, lodging and other exhibits or places of entertainment as may be a part of the historical theme linking the properties and sites on the women’s rights history trail.  The executive director shall develop discount packages for such women’s rights history trail, which may include the development of a women’s rights history trail passport. 

(e) The secretary is authorized to permit the erection and maintenance of signs on the state highway system or trails designated pursuant to this section; provided however, that the trail designation shall be of a ceremonial nature and the official names of such highways shall not be changed as a result of such designations.