HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2667        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2461

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jonathan Hecht

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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 public health benefits of expanding access to drinking water in public places.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2667        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2461

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 public health benefits of expanding access to drinking water in public places.

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, there shall be established a Special Commission on Access to Drinking Water in Public Places. The Commission shall evaluate the public health benefits of and options for expanding access to drinking water in public places, including but not limited to parks, playgrounds, schools, libraries, other public buildings, bicycle and pedestrian paths, stadiums, arenas, and commercial, cultural, and other properties generally open to the public.

SECTION 2. The Commission shall consist of 13 members, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of transportation or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of environmental protection or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of conservation and recreation or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the administrator of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Water Works Association or a designee, 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association or a designee, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a public health advocacy organization, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a water access advocacy organization, and 1 of whom shall be the director of the Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity at Harvard University School of Public Health or a designee. 

SECTION 3. The Commission shall first convene within 60 days of the effective date of this Act, and not less than bi-monthly thereafter, and shall file a report with the Joint Committee on Public Health not later than 180 days after first convening.  The report shall (a) present current scientific evidence on the health and other benefits of adequate water consumption, including but not limited to consumption by school-age children; (b) present currently available data on water consumption among Massachusetts residents by age, place of residence, gender, race, income, and other demographic factors; (c) evaluate current laws, regulations, and policies regarding access to drinking water in public places in Massachusetts; (d) evaluate current obstacles to access to drinking water in public places in Massachusetts; and (e) make recommendations for changes to policies, regulations, and legislation in order to expand access to drinking water in public places in Massachusetts.  The commission shall be empowered to hold regular public meetings, fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it considers necessary.  Members shall not receive compensation for their services.