HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2920 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3241
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul McMurtry
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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 relative to relocating turkeys in the town of Westwood.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk | 1/16/2015 |
Michael F. Rush | Norfolk and Suffolk | 3/23/2015 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2920 FILED ON: 1/16/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3241
By Mr. McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3241) of Paul McMurtry and Michael F. Rush that the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement be directed to assist in relocating wild turkeys found in the town of Westwood. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act relative to relocating turkeys in the town of Westwood.
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. Chapter 131 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 19B the following section:-
Section 19C. (a) For purposes of this section, “relocation site” shall mean any wildlife sanctuary, nature preserve or other predetermined area of land located within the commonwealth deemed suitable for the release of wild turkeys by the director.
(b) The department shall promptly take possession and control of any wild turkey captured by an animal control officer pursuant to subsection (c) of section 151 of chapter 140 and shall release the wild turkey into a relocation site.
(c) The department shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. Section 151 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 26, the words “animals, as” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- animals, including the removal of a wild turkey pursuant to subsection (c), or as.
SECTION 3. Said section 151 of said chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(c) Upon a complaint or report of a wild turkey living or occupying space in or near a residence or place of business, an animal control officer shall attempt to capture the wild turkey alive and remove the wild turkey from the area.
The animal control officer shall transfer possession and control of any captured wild turkey to the department of fisheries, wildlife and environmental law enforcement as soon as is practicable; provided, however, that the animal control officer shall keep the wild turkey in a secure cage, room or other location suitable for the confinement of a wild turkey until the department takes possession and control.