HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1708        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 472

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 establishing an ocean acidification task force.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1708        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 472

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 765 OF 2015-2016.]

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 ocean acidification task force.

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.  There is hereby established an Ocean Acidification Task Force to investigate, identify, and study the direct and indirect effects of coastal and ocean acidification on species that are commercially harvested or grown in the commonwealth’s coastal and ocean environments. 

The Task Force shall consist of the following members:  3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader;  3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader;  8 members appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be representatives of environmental or community groups,  3 of whom shall be persons who fish commercially, including at least one aquaculturist, and 3 of whom shall be scientists who have studied coastal or ocean acidification;  the commissioner of the department of environmental protection or his designee; the commissioner of the department of agricultural resources or his designee; the director of the division of marine fisheries or his designee; the director of the office of coastal zone management or his designee; and 1 municipal official appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.  The Task Force shall be chaired by the commissioner of environmental protection, or his designee.   

The Task Force shall:  (i) examine existing state and federal laws pertaining to coastal and ocean acidification;  (ii) review, study and analyze existing scientific literature and data on coastal and ocean acidification and the direct and indirect effects and potential effects such acidification has had or may have on commercially harvested or grown species along the coasts of the commonwealth; (iii) identify critical gaps in such scientific literature and data;  (iv) identify the factors contributing to coastal and ocean acidification;  (v) identify methods and protocols to mitigate coastal and ocean acidification;  (vi) identify economic development opportunities afforded by ocean acidification through development and commercialization of new technologies and businesses;  (vii) examine means of increasing public awareness of coastal and ocean acidification; and (viii) make recommendations for legislation addressing coastal and ocean acidification. 

The Task Force shall submit its findings, together with drafts of recommended legislation, if any, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means, and the chairs of the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture not later than March 30, 2016.