SECTION 1. Chapter 21N of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after section 9 the following section:-

Section 10. (a) Any potential hazard resulting from a natural gas leak to persons, property or the environment due to leaking natural gas shall be prescribed remedial actions. Each gas company shall promptly respond to any notification of a natural gas leak, gas odor or any notification of damage to facilities by excavators or other outside sources to protect persons and property and limit the amount of natural gas expelled to the atmosphere.

SECTION 2. Chapter 164 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section xx. (a) Any suspected damage to a tree due to a natural gas leak should be reported to the gas company for mandatory inspection by a qualified arborist.

(b) If a qualified arborist determines that a tree is damaged or killed by a natural gas leak, the gas company shall repair or replace the pipeline where the leak is present no later than 6 months from the date the leak was detected or before a tree is replaced.

(c) If a qualified arborist determines that a tree is damaged or killed by a natural gas leak, the gas company shall provide the entity which owns the tree with the funds to replace the compromised tree.

(c) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.