HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2982        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2153

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William M. Straus

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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 relative to the Farm Technology Review Commission.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2982        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2153

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to the Farm Technology Review Commission.

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 to the contrary, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs shall reorganize the Farm Technology Review Commission established by Section 11, Chapter 310 of the Acts of 2008. The reorganized commission shall consist of 15 members: 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of agricultural resources or his designee, who shall serve as chairman; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of environmental protection or designee; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of revenue or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the department of public health or his designee; and 11 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative from the Massachusetts technology collaborative, 1 of whom shall be a dairy farmer who is licensed as a producer dealer, 1 of whom shall be a dairy farmer who represents the Massachusetts association of dairy farmers, 1 of whom shall be a dairy farmer who represents the Massachusetts cooperative of milk producers federation,  1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, 1 of whom shall be a cranberry grower, and 4 of whom shall be a farmer from additional agricultural sectors. Each member shall serve for a term of 3 years. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of a member of the commission shall be appointed in a like manner and shall serve for only the unexpired term of the member who vacated. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. Any member may be removed by the governor for cause. Said commission shall meet quarterly or as need be if requested by 6 or more members of the commission.

The commission shall study and recommend options for updating farming technology including, but not limited to, ways to promote energy conservation, collaborative purchasing, purchasing and selling of energy, energy saving technology and alternative options for sustainability and growth. The commission shall, in the course of its study, analyze current regulations and statutes to ensure such regulations and statutes are not impediments to the adoption of farming technology.

The commission shall report to the governor and the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, who shall forward the same to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture on or before April 1, 2018, and annually thereafter.