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.