HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 863        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2735

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul A. Schmid, III

_________________

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 to promote water conservation.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Paul A. Schmid, III

8th Bristol

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 863        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2735

By Mr. Schmid of Westport, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2735) of Paul A. Schmid, III and Denise Provost that the Department of Revenue, in consultation with the Department of Agricultural Resources, provide an income tax deduction for the purchase of certain water conserving plants and items.  Revenue.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1718 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act to promote water conservation.

 

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.  Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Revenue shall, in consultation with the Department of Agricultural Resources, create a fifty percent personal income tax credit on the purchase and installation of up to five-hundred dollars worth of WaterWise plants and landscaping items.

 The Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall develop a list of WaterWise plants and landscaping items intended to reduce water usage, including, but not limited to: drought resistant plants that last for more than one year; kits or devices specifically designed for generating compost; grey-water recovery systems where the effluent is used for watering plants; rainwater recovery and storage devices where they are used for watering plants; rain sensors for irrigation systems; and, underground drip irrigation systems.