Bill H.2839

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 342 FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2839

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Shawn Dooley

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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 to create a commission to investigate the advertising practices of the solar energy industry.

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PETITION OF:

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Shawn Dooley	9th Norfolk	1/10/2019
Michael J. Soter	8th Worcester	1/27/2019

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 342 FILED ON: 1/10/2019

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2839

By Mr. Dooley of Norfolk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2839) of Shawn Dooley and Michael J. Soter for legislation to establish a commission (including members of the General Court) to investigate the advertising practices of the solar energy industry. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4748 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act to create a commission to investigate the advertising practices of the solar energy industry.

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. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established a special commission to study and report on the advertising practices of the solar energy industry. The commission shall be composed of 7 members: 2 members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 2 members of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and 3 members appointed by the Governor; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the solar energy industry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the utility companies, and 1 of whom shall be an expert in the area of advertising and marketing law.

The scope of the commission shall include, but shall not be limited to studying the advertising practices of businesses and the major players in the solar energy industry, discovering any fraudulent or deceptive advertising or trade practices carried out by players in the solar energy industry, and making recommendations on changes, legislative and otherwise, to ensure that prospective and current consumers of the solar energy industry are adequately protected.

(b) The commission shall report the results of its investigation and its recommendations by filing a report with the Clerk of the Senate; the Clerk of the House of Representatives; the Department of Energy Resources; the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Licensure; and the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy no later than one year after the first meeting of the commission is convened.