HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1611        FILED ON: 2/10/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3108

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Natalie M. Blais

_________________

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 advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Natalie M. Blais

1st Franklin

2/10/2021

John Barrett, III

1st Berkshire

2/23/2021

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

2/26/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1611        FILED ON: 2/10/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3108

By Ms. Blais of Sunderland, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3108) of Natalie M. Blais, John Barrett, III and Vanna Howard relative to state grants for rural communities.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants.

 

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

Chapter 7 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after section 62 the following section:-

Section 63. As used in this section the following words shall have the following meanings:-

“Rural communities”, municipalities with population densities of less than 500 persons per square mile.

The secretary shall direct all departments, commissions, offices, boards, divisions, institutions or other agencies administering grant programs to give preference to rural communities, particularly those that intend to use funds to regionalize or share services, and to grant applicants that serve rural communities.

The secretary shall direct all such agencies to identify and inform rural communities of discretionary grant programs and incentives for which rural communities wishing to regionalize or share services could benefit from preferences under this section.

The secretary shall annually, on or before July 1, report on the implementation of this section to the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on municipalities and regional government and members of the general court who represent rural communities.