SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1196        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 689

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Harriette L. Chandler

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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 resolve:

Resolve creating a real estate and housing commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1196        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 689

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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Resolve creating a real estate and housing commission.

Resolved, SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission for the purpose of studying and making recommendations concerning issues related to real estate and housing, included but not limited to zoning, foreclosure, homelessness, and landlord/tenant disputes. The commission, in formulating its recommendations, shall take account of best practices and policies in other states and jurisdictions.

SECTION 2. The commission shall include, The Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development, three members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President and one appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the House Minority Leader, three persons to be named by the Governor, and a representative from each of the following organizations: Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, MassLandlords, the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants, the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, and the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston. The Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development shall be designated the chairman of the commission.

SECTION 3. The commission shall submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representative and the President of the Senate, and the Joint Committee on Housing no later than 9 months after the passage of this Act setting forth the commission’s conclusions on how to improve the affordability and accessibility of housing.