HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 498        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 87

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Natalie M. Blais

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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 promoting equity in agriculture.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 498        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 87

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act promoting equity in agriculture.

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

(a) There shall be a special legislative commission on agricultural equity to develop recommendations for supporting investments, policies and practices designed to promote equity in agriculture for socially disadvantaged groups in the commonwealth. For the purposes of this section, “socially disadvantaged groups” shall include people who have, or whose lineage has, been historically or systematically excluded from, or have had less access to resources and opportunities based on cultural, racial, or ethnic prejudice based on their identity as a member of a group rather than for their individual qualities. These groups include, but are not limited to, African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Caribbean Islanders, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.

(b) The commission shall consist of: the commissioner of agricultural resources or a designee; the chairs of the committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture or their designees; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Black and Latino legislative caucus; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Asian legislative caucus; 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts food system legislative caucus, to be selected through an open nomination process under criteria developed by the caucus; 2 members appointed by the commissioner of agricultural resources who shall represent Buy Local organizations funded by the department; 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of African Americans; 2 members appointed by a Massachusetts-based farming association; 2 members appointed by non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is working with farmers from socially disadvantaged groups; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of Latinos and Latinas; 1 member appointed by the commission on the status of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; 1 member appointed by the commission on Indian affairs; 1 member appointed by Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Federation of Farmers Markets; and 1 member appointed by the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The appointing authorities shall appoint members knowledgeable in agriculture and who represent a diversity of knowledge of urban and rural agricultural practices and experiences. The commission shall be co-chaired by the commissioner of agricultural resources and a member of the commission chosen by the members.

(b) The commission shall investigate and study ways to increase equity in agriculture in the commonwealth, and shall prepare a report that shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations for: (i) data collection and dissemination; (ii) benchmark development and targeting areas of need; (iii) transparency for grantmaking to promote equitable access to grant programs and equitable distribution of funds; (iv) generating greater equity in the laws, regulations and other policies that regulate and support agriculture in the commonwealth, including, but not limited to, legislative, regulatory and sub-regulatory processes; (v) improving equity in the programs and services offered by the department of agricultural resources including, but not limited to, those programs regarding land access and protection, farmer technical assistance and education, marketing and others; (iv) the ongoing role of the commission or another representative body in supporting the implementation and monitoring of these equity goals; and (v) a plan for implementation, including a timeline.

(c) The department of agricultural resources shall furnish reasonable staff and other support for the work of the commission. Members of the commission may receive reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission under procedures established by the department.

(d) The commission shall hold 3 or more public hearings in various regions of the commonwealth, including 1 in a rural area and 1 in an urban area with potential for increased urban agriculture. Not more than 18 months after the effective date of this act, the commission shall file a report on the results of its investigation and study together with its findings and recommendations, including any drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture. The report shall be posted on the website of the department of agricultural resources.