HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4361        FILED ON: 7/20/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4062

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Kenneth I. Gordon

_________________

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 Office of the State Climatologist.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Kenneth I. Gordon

21st Middlesex

7/20/2021

William C. Galvin

6th Norfolk

8/6/2021

William J. Driscoll, Jr.

7th Norfolk

8/6/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

8/13/2021

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

8/19/2021

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

8/20/2021

Paul R. Feeney

Bristol and Norfolk

9/2/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4361        FILED ON: 7/20/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4062

By Mr. Gordon of Bedford, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kenneth I. Gordon relative to the office of the state climatologist within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to the Office of the State Climatologist.

 

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. Chapter 21A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking section 24 and inserting in the place thereof the following section:-

Section 24. There shall be an office of the state climatologist which shall be independent of the executive office and under the supervision and control of a state climatologist to be appointed by the secretary. The office of the state climatologist shall be housed by the University of Massachusetts system and shall: (i) gather and analyze data on climate conditions in the commonwealth; (ii) conduct and foster research concerning the climate in the commonwealth and look for opportunities for sponsored research concerning climate issues in the commonwealth; (iii) coordinate with the National Centers for Environmental Information and the Northeast Regional Climate Center both of the United States Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Northeast Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center of the United States Department of the Interior, and the Northeast Climate Hub of the United States Department of Agriculture; and (iv) educate and inform the public on matters related to the climate. The office of the state climatologist shall advise branches of state and local government concerning the climate in the commonwealth and its implications for both economic and scientific needs in conjunction with existing and future environmental factors relating to the climate in the commonwealth. The office of the state climatologist shall maintain a liaison with state, academic, and scientific institutions and join federal and international climate interest groups. The state climatologist shall serve for a term of 5 years but may be reappointed. The office of the state climatologist shall be funded by the executive office.