SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1556        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 890

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Richard J. Ross

_________________

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 requiring that eminent domain be for the public use and defining public use.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

Leonard Mirra

2nd Essex

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

Robert L. Hedlund

Plymouth and Norfolk

Donald F. Humason, Jr.

Second Hampden and Hampshire

Viriato M. deMacedo

Plymouth and Barnstable

Kenneth J. Donnelly

Fourth Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1556        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 890

By Mr. Ross, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 890) of Richard J. Ross, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., Leonard Mirra, Angelo M. Scaccia and other members of the General Court for legislation to require that eminent domain takings be for public use purposes and defining the term public use.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 783 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act requiring that eminent domain be for the public use and defining public use.

 

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 79 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following new section:-

Section 1A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither this state nor any political subdivision thereof nor any other condemning entity shall use eminent domain unless it is necessary for a public use. Whenever property is condemned and will be used by a private party, the condemner must establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the use of eminent domain complies with this section and is reasonably necessary.

Public use: The term “public use” shall only mean: (1) the possession, occupation and enjoyment of the land by the general public, or by public agencies; (2) the use of land for the creation or functioning of public utilities or common carries; or (3) where the use of eminent domain (a)(i) removes a public nuisance, (ii) removes a structure that is beyond repair or unfit for human habitation or use, or (iii) is used to acquire abandoned property in its current condition. The public benefits of economic development, including an increase in tax base, tax revenues, employment and general economic health, shall not constitute a public use.