SENATE DOCKET, NO. 422        FILED ON: 1/16/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1700

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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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 a municipal record preservation commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 422        FILED ON: 1/16/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1700

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 a municipal record preservation commission.

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 shall be a special commission to examine the status, maintenance, preservation and storage of municipal records in the Commonwealth.

SECTION 2. The commission shall examine and assess the current condition of essential municipal records and identify strategies and possible solutions to ameliorate the organization, storage and preservation of municipal records in the Commonwealth.

SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of the secretary of the commonwealth or his designee; a member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Supervisor of Public Records; a representative from the Massachusetts Archives; a representative from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; a representative from the Town Clerk’s Association; a representative from the City Clerk’s Association; and a representative from the Massachusetts Municipal Association. The representatives from the Massachusetts archives shall serve as the chairperson of the commission. The members of the commission shall be appointed not later 90 days after the effective date of this act and shall serve until the completion of the report.

SECTION 4. The commission may hold public hearings to assist in the collection and evaluation of data and testimony.

SECTION 5. Any research, analysis or other staff support that the commission reasonably requires shall be provided by the Massachusetts Archives.

SECTION 6. The commission shall prepare a written report detailing its findings and recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect. The commission shall submit its report to the governor, the secretary of the commonwealth, the clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives, the chairs of the house and senate committees on municipalities and regional government not later than 3 years after the effective date of this act.