HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4948        FILED ON: 3/17/2020

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

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Tommy Vitolo

_________________

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 powers of city and town officials during a public health emergency.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

3/17/2020

Edward F. Coppinger

10th Suffolk

3/18/2020

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

3/18/2020

Jon Santiago

9th Suffolk

3/19/2020

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

3/18/2020

Kevin G. Honan

17th Suffolk

3/19/2020

Nika C. Elugardo

15th Suffolk

3/18/2020

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

3/18/2020

Stephan Hay

3rd Worcester

3/19/2020

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

3/19/2020

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

3/18/2020

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

3/19/2020

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

3/18/2020

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

3/21/2020

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

3/23/2020

Alan Silvia

7th Bristol

3/25/2020

David Allen Robertson

19th Middlesex

3/25/2020


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4948        FILED ON: 3/17/2020

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

By Mr. Vitolo of Brookline, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Tommy Vitolo and others for legislation to authorize cities and towns to impose limitations on the operation of businesses from the date of the emergency declaration issued by the Governor on March 10, 2020 until such time as the emergency declaration is rescinded.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to the powers of city and town officials during a public health emergency.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith provide power to cities and towns to limit business activities during a state of emergency, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 37A, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, the following section:-

SECTION 37B. The mayor of any city other than a city having a Plan D or Plan E form of charter, the city manager of a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter, and the selectmen of a town may, from the date of the emergency declaration issued by the Governor, dated March 10, 2020 and designated as executive order number 591, until such time as the emergency declaration is rescinded by the governor, impose limitations on the operation of businesses within the city or town, including but not limited to limitations on business hours, operating procedures of types of businesses, and closing of types of businesses;