HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2379        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Aaron Michlewitz

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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 regarding decennial division of wards and precincts in the city of Boston.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2379        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act regarding decennial division of wards and precincts in the city of Boston.

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. Beginning in the year 2021, notwithstanding section 3 of the chapter 605 of the Acts of 1982 or any other general or special law to the contrary exempting the City of Boston from making a decennial division of its territory into wards as required by section 1 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, after each decennial federal census the City of Boston,  Board of Elections Commissioners may, or if the existing wards in the city do not contain, as nearly as can be ascertained, an equal number of inhabitants shall, make a new division of its territory into such number of wards as may be fixed by law.

            SECTION 2. Beginning in the year 2021, notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 220 of the Acts of 1921 or any other general or special law to the contrary exempting the City of Boston from making a decennial division of its territory into precincts as required by sections 1 and 2 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, after each decennial federal census the City of Boston, Board of Elections Commissioners may, or if the existing precincts in the city do not contain, as nearly as can be ascertained, an equal number of inhabitants shall, make a new division of its territory into such number of precincts as required by section 2 of chapter 54 of the General Laws.

            SECTION 3. In the year 2021 and every tenth year thereafter, the City of Boston’s Board of Election Commissioners shall submit its plan for new or unrevised wards and/or precincts to the City Council at least twenty-one days prior June 15, or whichever day so designated by the state secretary. The City Council shall vote on such plan no later than June 15, or whichever day so designated by the state secretary. After the City Council and mayor approve a new or unrevised ward and/or precinct plan, the plan shall be submitted to the city clerk who shall have seven days to give written notice to the state secretary of the number and designation of wards and precincts in accordance with section 1 of chapter 54 of the General Laws. Final approval of such plan shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in chapter 54 of the General Laws pertaining to the division of cities into wards and precincts.

            SECTION 4. In the year 2019 and every tenth year thereafter, the City of Boston’s Board of Election Commissioners shall conduct a preliminary investigation concerning the most recent maps and data on existing precincts, wards, and divisions, including the most recent data and statistics concerning the amount of inhabitants in each precinct, ward, and division at the time of the investigation. The City of Boston’s Board of Election Commissioners shall report the findings of this preliminary investigation to the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on election laws by no later than February 1st of the following year.

            SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.