HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2154 FILED ON: 2/16/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 963
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Meghan Kilcoyne and Danielle W. Gregoire
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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 regarding agricultural composting programs.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Meghan Kilcoyne | 12th Worcester | 2/16/2021 |
Danielle W. Gregoire | 4th Middlesex | 2/16/2021 |
Harriette L. Chandler | First Worcester | 2/26/2021 |
Vanna Howard | 17th Middlesex | 2/26/2021 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2154 FILED ON: 2/16/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 963
By Representatives Kilcoyne of Northborough and Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 963) of Meghan Kilcoyne, Danielle W. Gregoire and others that the Department of Food and Agriculture be authorized to establish an agricultural composting program. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 840 OF 2019-2020.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act regarding agricultural composting programs.
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 21H of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection 7(b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:
(b) The department of food and agriculture shall establish, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, an agricultural composting program. Said department of food and agriculture is hereby authorized to establish, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, state and local composting projects, and a demonstration agricultural composting program, and to accept applications for grants from municipalities for the purposes of creating agricultural composting projects. Said department of food and agriculture shall promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of state, local, and demonstration agricultural composting programs provided, however, that any such rules and regulations shall require that all composting projects and facilities comply with local zoning, land use, conservation, and health ordinances, bylaws, and regulations, including but not limited to requirements regarding setback or separation distances, odors, dust and debris, types and quantities of materials, and source of materials – on-site and off-site, and all such projects and facilities shall comply with such local ordinances, bylaws, and regulations.