SENATE DOCKET, NO. 770        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 419

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act establishing a study commission on the municipal waterways improvement and maintenance funds..

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.   The Governor shall establish a special commission to study, evaluate and explore funding sources and expenditures of existing Municipal Waterways Improvement and Maintenance Funds, established under Section 5G of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.  Said commission shall be composed of 9 members; provided that, the Governor shall appoint one member from the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, one member from the Office of Administration and Finance, one member from the Harbormaster Association, one member from the Massachusetts Division of Waterways, one member from the Boston Harbor Alliance, two members from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and two members from the Massachusetts Bay Yacht Club Association.  Said study shall include, but is not limited to: compiling an itemized list of said funds, including when the funds were established and by what authority; a list of each city and town that offers a mooring fee and the amount of said fee; provided further, that said commission may hold public hearings if it deems necessary and said commission shall file a report and any recommendations on the proper collection and usage of said existing and future funds to the House and Senate Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and the Joint Committee on Taxation no later than December 13, 2004.