HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2338 FILED ON: 1/19/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2715
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Stephen Kulik
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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 establishing an agricultural tourism study commission.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Stephen Kulik | 1st Franklin | 1/19/2017 |
John W. Scibak | 2nd Hampshire | 1/19/2017 |
David F. DeCoste | 5th Plymouth | 1/19/2017 |
Steven S. Howitt | 4th Bristol | 1/19/2017 |
David Paul Linsky | 5th Middlesex | 1/19/2017 |
José F. Tosado | 9th Hampden | 1/19/2017 |
Keiko M. Orrall | 12th Bristol | 1/19/2017 |
Michael D. Brady | Second Plymouth and Bristol | 1/19/2017 |
Kate Hogan | 3rd Middlesex | 1/19/2017 |
Paul W. Mark | 2nd Berkshire | 1/19/2017 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 1/19/2017 |
Donald F. Humason, Jr. | Second Hampden and Hampshire | 1/19/2017 |
Chris Walsh | 6th Middlesex | 1/19/2017 |
Paul A. Schmid, III | 8th Bristol | 1/19/2017 |
Adam G. Hinds | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden | 1/19/2017 |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex | 1/19/2017 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 1/19/2017 |
Harold P. Naughton, Jr. | 12th Worcester | 1/19/2017 |
Brian Murray | 10th Worcester | 1/19/2017 |
Gailanne M. Cariddi | 1st Berkshire | 1/19/2017 |
Carlos González | 10th Hampden | 1/19/2017 |
Julian Cyr | Cape and Islands | 1/19/2017 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2338 FILED ON: 1/19/2017
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2715
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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An Act establishing an agricultural tourism study commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
There shall be established an Agricultural Tourism Study Commission which shall be charged with exploring opportunities to support, expand and enhance opportunities for agricultural tourism in the Commonwealth. Commission activities shall include but not be limited to review of state and municipal laws relative to zoning and public health; a review of laws, regulations, policies and grant programs within the Department of Agricultural Resources including the Agricultural Preservation Restriction Program; and a review of relevant programs within the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. The commission shall, in the course of its study, study the best practices from around the country, and analyze relevant regulations and statutes to ensure such regulations and statutes are not impediments to the expansion of agritourism.
The Commission shall consist of 9 members: 1 of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Resources or his designee who shall serve as Chairman, Commission, 1 of whom shall be the commissioner of the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or his designee; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, and 4 members appointed by the Governor who are involved in various agricultural tourism activities.
The commission shall, in the course of its efforts, study the best practices from around the country, and analyze current regulations and statutes to ensure such regulations and statutes are not impediments to the expansion of agritourism.
Within 12 months of the passage of this legislation, The Commission shall report to the governor and the general court the results of its study and its recommendations, 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 Committees on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.