SECTION 1. There is hereby established the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Innovation Center, whose purpose shall be to develop, identify, research, advance and deploy innovative means, methods, technologies and approaches for protecting and strengthening the resilience of the state's coastal shoreline, including but not limited to beaches, marshes, dunes and public and private property and infrastructure. The center shall be administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and shall consist of representatives of the Office of Coastal Zone Management, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, whom shall meet at intervals of not less than 6 months for the purposes set forth in Section 3, provided that such meetings shall be open to public observation, provided further that the center may elect to receive written or oral testimony with proper notice given.

SECTION 2. The center shall be advised by an advisory group appointed by the governor, comprised of 3 members representing municipal officials, selected from a list submitted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, 3 members representing environmental advocacy organizations in the commonwealth, 3 members representing owners of coastal property in the commonwealth, 3 members whom shall have expertise in engineering, construction, or architecture, 1 member with expertise in coastal geology, and 2 members representing the taxpayers of the commonwealth. Said advisory group shall meet not less than every 3 months, and at the request of the Innovation Center.

SECTION 3. The center shall identify, develop, and research, in consultation with one or more institutions of higher learning or research in the commonwealth, innovative methods of protecting coastal resources, with prioritization for natural approaches such as thin layer marsh deposition, living shorelines, vegetation, eradication of invasive plant and shellfish species such as green crab, and any other relevant methodology. The center shall produce an annual report of its activities, which shall be provided to the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on environment and natural resources, filed with the clerks of the house and senate and posted electronically for public inspection.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this act shall expire on December 31, 2035, unless otherwise repealed, modified or extended.