SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1788 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2234
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul R. Feeney
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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 resolve:
Resolve establishing the roadside litter prevention and cleanup task force.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Paul R. Feeney | Bristol and Norfolk |
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Rob Consalvo | 14th Suffolk | 5/1/2023 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 5/1/2023 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1788 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2234
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 2234) of Paul R. Feeney that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a task force relative to roadside litter prevention and cleanup. Transportation. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve establishing the roadside litter prevention and cleanup task force.
Resolved, there shall be established within the highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, a litter prevention and cleanup task force. The task force shall consist of: the secretary of transportation or a designee, who shall serve as chair, the executive director of the Massachusetts office of travel and tourism or a designee, the secretary of public safety and security or a designee, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a designee and the executive director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful, Inc.
The task force shall: (i) create a consistent, memorable, Massachusetts-themed anti-littering slogan and branding, and shall develop a litter prevention advertising campaign suitable for use across multiple platforms including, but not limited to, television and radio broadcast, print, social media, state-controlled messaging boards, billboards and signs; and (ii) conduct an analysis on the annual costs associated with the cleanup of highway and roadside litter, the funding sources currently used for litter cleanup and the areas most impacted by litter; provided however, that in conducting its work, the task force shall consider the current enforcement and fine statutes and regulations related to littering in the commonwealth.
The task force shall issue a report with recommendations on: (i) potential funding needed for litter cleanup along our highways and roadsides; (ii) litter enforcement among motorists and vehicles with improperly covered loads, including but not limited to, best practices for law enforcement; (iii) whether additional funding is needed for enforcement; and (iv) whether the current fine structure is adequate. The report shall be filed with the governor, the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development and the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture not later than December 31, 2024.