HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3327        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3593

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Carlos González

_________________

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 prevent over saturation of clinical or educational programs in low income neighborhoods under the Dover amendment without local approval.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Carlos González

10th Hampden

1/20/2017

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

4/5/2017

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

4/5/2017

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

4/6/2017

Carole A. Fiola

6th Bristol

4/6/2017

Frank A. Moran

17th Essex

4/7/2017

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

4/10/2017

Aaron Vega

5th Hampden

4/11/2017

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

2/2/2017

Bud Williams

11th Hampden

1/26/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3327        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3593

By Mr. Gonzalez of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3593) of Carlos Gonzalez and others relative to substance use and alcohol addiction centers and clinics in low income municipalities.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to prevent over saturation of clinical or educational programs in low income neighborhoods under the Dover amendment without local approval.

 

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. The General Court hereby finds and declares that the use of the dover amendment in low income cities and towns without local approval may incentivize the oversaturation of substance use and alcohol addiction centers and clinics in low income cities and towns, and the failure to put property purchased for educational purposes to productive use in a timely manner, therefore, low income cities and towns should participate in the decision to approve the use of land under the dover amendment.

SECTION 2. The second paragraph of section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “requirements”, in lines 51 and 52, the following words:- ; provided, further, that no such land or structures located in a low income city or town, defined for purposes of this paragraph as a city or town whose average median income is equal to 60 per cent or less of the average median income of the commonwealth, shall be used for educational purposes pursuant to this section, including, but not limited to the purpose of opening a substance abuse or alcohol rehabilitation center or a clinic, nor be exempt from zoning regulation pursuant to this section, without first obtaining the approval of the legislative body of such city or town.

SECTION 3. Said section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any person, organization, institution or corporation that purchases property within a city or town to be used for educational purposes pursuant to this section, and who fails, within 2 years to substantially improve such property shall be assessed at the property's highest and best use at commercial rate for such property, with no exemption.