HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1474        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1708

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Byron Rushing

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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 to protect tropical forests by restricting state purchases of certain wood products.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1474        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1708

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2809 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act to protect tropical forests by restricting state purchases of certain wood products.

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. Section 22 of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection 17 the following new subsection:--

(17a)  The state shall not purchase wood grown in a tropical forest or products made up substantially of wood grown in a tropical forest except where a public necessity exists and no other alternative is available or unless the wood originates from second growth forests and carries independent certification, accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. 

For purposes of this Act, “tropical forests” are defined as any and all forests occurring within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, including but not limited to humid tropical forests, moist tropical forests, tropical rain forests and tropical dry forests.

For purposes of this Act, “second growth forests” is defined as forests that have been cut or severely impacted at least ten years prior to logging for wood.

For purposes of this Act, “independent certification” is defined as a credible and internationally recognized scheme of forest management certification that is independent of any government body or any corporate entity involved in the cutting, transport, milling, distribution, supply or sales of wood products; includes the tracking of the chain-of-custody of the wood.

Where state monies are being used, recycled plastic lumber shall be considered as an alternate material in all bids for outdoor and marine projects where hazardous material treated woods (HMTW) and tropical hardwoods are typically used, such as boardwalks, piers, pilings, fender piles, docks, bulkheads, ferry terminals, bridge decking and understructure, benches, and other outdoor state or municipal amenities.