SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2402        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 458

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Brendan P. Crighton

_________________

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 to promote nature-based approaches for resiliency and climate change adaptation throughout the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/8/2023

Nick Collins

First Suffolk

2/14/2023

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

5/18/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2402        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 458

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 458) of Brendan P. Crighton, Kay Khan and Nick Collins for legislation to promote nature-based approaches for resiliency and climate change adaptation throughout the Commonwealth.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act to promote nature-based approaches for resiliency and climate change adaptation throughout the Commonwealth.

 

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. Notwithstanding any special act, law or regulation to the contrary, research activities and demonstration projects related to Nature-Based Approaches and implementation of Nature-Based Approaches, specifically designed to study or demonstrate the efficacy of Nature-Based Approaches and systems designed to enhance wave and energy attenuation, or mimic natural systems for the sole purpose of developing resiliency strategies and implementing Nature-Based Approaches, may be reviewed and approved in a timely manner by the authorities with jurisdiction over said activities, conditioned as appropriate, with the discretion to waive any and all performance and regulatory standards, provided that protections are upheld for Indigenous groups and cultural and historic resources, in order to fulfill the goal of conducting research and demonstration projects to inform future resiliency strategies and to implement Nature-Based Approaches throughout the Commonwealth. Demonstration projects shall consider protections for underserved communities and environmental justice populations when designing and implementing said projects.

SECTION 2. This Act shall sunset five years from the date it is enacted.