HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 198        FILED ON: 1/9/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 876

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas M. Stanley

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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 relative to the conservation of striped bass.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 198        FILED ON: 1/9/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 876

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 465 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 relative to the conservation of striped bass.

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 of wild striped bass in the Commonwealth.

SECTION 2. The commission shall examine and assess the impact that commercial harvesting and recreational fishing have on the population and viability of wild striped bass in the Commonwealth, the economic value of the recreational striped bass fishery in terms of tax revenue and jobs, and state and local tax revenue loss due to the decline of the recreational fishery.

SECTION 3. The commission shall consist of 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; a member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the House Minority leader; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs or his designee who shall serve as Chairman of the commission; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or his designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development or his designee; The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue or his designee; the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries or his designee; a representative from the commercial fishing industry to be appointed by the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries; a representative from the sports fishing industry to be appointed by the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries; a marine economist with demonstrated understanding of the valuation of commercial and recreational fisheries to be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, and a member of a Striped Bass advocacy group to be appointed by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and the Environment. The members of the commission shall be appointed not later July 3, 2019. 

SECTION 4. The commission may shall hold public hearings in Gloucester, New Bedford, Boston and Cape Cod to assist in the collection and evaluation of data and testimony.

SECTION 5. 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 Senate President and Speaker of the House, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, the House and Senate Chairman of the Ways and Means Committees, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Revenue, the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development not later than December 31 of 2019.