SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2461 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 562
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam G. Hinds
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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 reducing unnecessary destruction of forests.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
Adam G. Hinds | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2461 FILED ON: 2/19/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 562
By Mr. Hinds, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 562) of Adam G. Hinds for legislation to reduce unnecessary destruction of forests. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
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 reducing unnecessary destruction of forests.
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. Section 40 of Chapter 132 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph in its entirety and replacing it with the following:-
Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the commonwealth that all lands devoted to forest growth shall be kept in such condition as shall not jeopardize the public interests, and that the policy of the commonwealth shall further be one of cooperation with the landowners and other agencies interested in forestry practices to preserve forested lands for the betterment of the environment as a whole, to minimize cutting trees on all state-owned lands, except as necessary to maintain proper forest health and safety.
SECTION 2. Section 11F of Chapter 25A of the General Laws is hereby amended in subsection (b) by adding after the words solar thermal electric energy, the following:- “, provided, that the solar photovoltaic or solar thermal electric energy source was not constructed on previously forested lands”.