HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1587        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 313

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sean Curran

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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 establish a special commission to study the economic impact of state regulatory law upon the manufacturing industry in Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1587        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 313

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to establish a special commission to study the economic impact of state regulatory law upon the manufacturing industry in Massachusetts.

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 to the contrary, there is hereby established a special commission to study the economic impact of state regulatory law upon the manufacturing industry in Massachusetts, particularly that of small to medium sized manufacturers.  Specifically, said commission shall focus its activities upon the effect of regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 21I of the Massachusetts General Laws and activities of state agencies charged with implementation of said chapter and any amendments thereto. 

The special commission shall determine if regulatory and/or state agency activities, in implementing chapter 21I, are consistent with and within the provisions of the enabling statute of 1989 and any amendments thereto. 

The commission shall review and analyze the representation and membership of all boards and committees that are in operation pursuant to chapter 21I, including, but not limited to, the science advisory board of the toxic use reduction institute, the advisory committee established by the toxic use reduction act and the administrative council established by the toxic use reduction act.  Such analysis shall include but not be limited to: qualifications, and the sufficiency thereof, of all members of said boards and committees; equity in board and committee representation of all possible stake-holders to be affected by board and committee activities and official acts; the number of members that are registered as legislative and/or executive agents with the office of the secretary of state and any possible conflicts of interest that may arise therefrom; the influence upon and participation by non-voting members of boards and committees attending said committee and board meetings that are also employees of the Commonwealth including but not limited to state regulatory agencies and the state run universities. 

Said commission shall determine the following in regard to regulatory impacts upon small to medium sized manufacturers subject to the requirements of chapter 21I of the general laws: job creation and job loss, number of manufacturing companies that have been established since enactment of chapter 21I; number of companies that have departed Massachusetts and closed operations; production volume; costs to manufacturers due to fees; tax revenue lost to state due to a company’s closure or re-location. 

The special commission shall also consider whether requisite small business impact statements, filed with proposed regulations, sufficiently and substantively articulate economic impacts upon small to medium sized manufacturers. 

Said analysis may be expanded to other issues the commission deems appropriate in carrying out its obligations.     

The commission shall be comprised of the following members, each of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority: the house and senate chairmen of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies or their respective designees; the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development or his designee; the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs or his designee, an industry trade representative on behalf of small to medium manufacturers to be appointed by the house chairman of economic development and emerging technologies; an industry engineer to be appointed by the senate chairman of economic development and emerging technologies; and a designee from a Massachusetts trade association.  

The commission shall compile and submit a report with recommendations including legislative proposals to the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate no later than December 31, 2013.   The special commission shall dissolve upon completion of its duties and obligations, as indicated by submission of its findings and recommendations.