SENATE DOCKET, NO. 249        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1211

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael J. Rodrigues

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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 improving local decision making.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 249        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1211

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1092 OF 2013-2014.]

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 improving local decision making.

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 17 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-

7B. The department shall establish, conduct and maintain an annual program of education and training for members of local boards of health; provided, however, that the department shall consult with the Massachusetts Association of Boards of Health in the development of said program; provided, further, that the department may contract with the Massachusetts Association of Boards of Health to provide such education and training. All education and training courses shall be free of charge to board members and, to the extent practicable, be offered in various locations throughout the commonwealth.

SECTION 2. Chapter 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section fifteen the following new section:-

15A. The department of environmental protection shall establish, conduct and maintain an annual program of education and training for members of local conservation commissions; provided, however, that the department shall consult with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions in the development of said program; provided, further, that the department may contract with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions to provide such education and training. All education and training courses shall be free of charge to commission members and, to the extent practicable, be offered in various locations throughout the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. Section 3 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsection:-

(w) establish, conduct and maintain an annual program of education and training for members of local planning boards and zoning boards of appeals; provided, however that the department shall consult with the Massachusetts Federation of Planning and Appeals Boards regarding in development of said program; provided, further, the department may contract with the Massachusetts Citizen Planning Training Collaborative at the University of Massachusetts to provide such education and training. All education and training courses shall be free of charge to board members and, to the extent practicable, be offered in various locations throughout the commonwealth.

SECTION 4. Section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-

The members of the commission shall attend such training programs conducted or sponsored by the department of environmental protection under the provisions of section 15A of chapter 21A.

SECTION 5. Section 12 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-

The members of the board shall attend such training programs conducted or sponsored by the department of housing and community development under the provisions of section 3 of chapter 23B.

SECTION 6. Section 81A of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new paragraph:-

The members of the board shall attend such training programs conducted or sponsored by the department of housing and community development under the provisions of section 3 of chapter 23B.

SECTION 7. Section 26 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the following new sentence:- The members of the board shall attend such training programs conducted or sponsored by the department of public health under the provisions of section 7B of chapter 17.