HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3042        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 797

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Dylan A. Fernandes

_________________

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 removing barriers to beach access.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Dylan A. Fernandes

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

1/17/2023

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

2/7/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3042        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 797

By Representative Fernandes of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 797) of Dylan A. Fernandes and Michelle M. DuBois relative to beach access and parking fees.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act removing barriers to beach access.

 

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 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 72. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Excessive parking fees”, any fee that exceeds beach parking fees for residents of the commonwealth set by the department of conservation and recreation.

(b) No state agency or state authority shall make expenditures involving state monies to beaches that restrict access to residents or renters of the municipalities that control said beaches only.

(c) No state agency shall make expenditures involving state monies to beaches that charge excessive parking fees in parking lots dedicated to such beaches.

(d) A city or town shall not be eligible for any state or federal funds or grants administered by the commonwealth until such time as the municipality has provided for access to municipal beaches pursuant to subsection (b) and reduced excessive parking fees to an amount no greater than the highest beach parking charged by the commonwealth for residents of the commonwealth.