SENATE DOCKET, NO. 244        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 722

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James E. Timilty

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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 providing for a moratorium on the issuance of comprehensive permits and establishing a special commission to investigate the use and effectiveness of the comprehensive permit law.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 244        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 722

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 620 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 providing for a moratorium on the issuance of comprehensive permits and establishing a special commission to investigate the use and effectiveness of the comprehensive permit law.

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 or regulation to the contrary, no public agency, nonprofit organization or limited dividend organization shall be granted a comprehensive permit as provided under sections 20 to 23, inclusive of chapter 40B of the General Laws for a period of 3 years from the effective date of this act.

SECTION 2.  There shall be a 9 member special commission for the purpose of investigating the use and effectiveness of the “comprehensive permit law”, sections 20 to 23, inclusive of chapter 40B of the General Laws.  The commission shall consist of the secretary of administration and finance or his designee; the secretary of housing and economic development or his designee; the secretary of transportation or his designee; 2 members appointed by the president of the senate, including the senate chair of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government, the senate chair of the joint committee on housing; 1 member appointed by the senate minority leader; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including the house chair of the joint committee on municipalities and regional government, the house chair of the joint committee housing; and 1 member appointed by the house minority leader. 

The commission shall study the effectiveness of the “comprehensive permit law” as a mechanism for promoting the construction of affordable housing units in the Commonwealth and its impact on regional and municipal planning.  The commission shall hold 14 public hearings, one in each county in the Commonwealth, to solicit public testimony and evidence of the positive and negative aspects of the “comprehensive permit law”.  The commission shall issues a report that shall include the history of the “comprehensive permit law; a summary of the testimony presented at the public hearings; and any legislative or regulatory amendments it deems necessary to ensure the “comprehensive permit law” effectively promotes the best interests of the Commonwealth and its municipalities.

The commission shall file its report with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of house of representatives on or before December 31, 2015.