SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2035        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 552

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

_________________

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 relative to lobstering closure mitigation.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

 

Jennifer Balinsky Armini

8th Essex

2/1/2023

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

2/7/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/27/2023

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

2/27/2023

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

3/1/2023

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable

3/30/2023

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

4/10/2023

Josh S. Cutler

6th Plymouth

4/13/2023

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

10/19/2023

Joan Meschino

3rd Plymouth

10/23/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2035        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 552

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 552) of Patrick M. O'Connor, Jennifer Balinsky Armini, Julian Cyr, Bruce E. Tarr and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to lobstering closure mitigation.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to lobstering closure mitigation.

 

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 130 of the general laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 37B. Lobstering Closure Mitigation Fund

(a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the Commonwealth, subject to appropriation, a fund to be known as the Lobstering Closure Mitigation Fund to be administered by the department of unemployment assistance.

(b) The purpose of the Fund shall be to provide financial assistance to lobstermen to mitigate the financial impacts of fishing area closures due to protection of endangered marine species. For the purposes of this act, the term “lobsterman” shall mean a holder of a commercial fisherman permit (lobster) as so appearing in section 38 of this chapter that is deemed to be active and transferable by the director, and the term “trap” shall mean a lobster trap or pot used to catch lobsters that is owned by and licensed under and a lobsterman. Any lobsterman who is domiciled in Massachusetts shall be eligible for weekly payments equal to one dollar per trap per week. Eligibility for said payments shall be available through February 1 and shall terminate on July 30 annually.

(c) There shall be credited to the Fund all amounts that are, by law, transferred or authorized to be transferred thereto or directed to be deposited therein, and all amounts received as gifts, grants, or contributions for the purposes of the Fund. Amounts credited to the Fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and any money remaining in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.

(d) The director of the department shall report annually to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on environment natural resources and agriculture on income received into the fund and sources of that income, any expenditure from the fund and their purposes, and fund balances.

(e) The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations pertaining to payment application and disbursement procedures.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.