SENATE DOCKET, NO. 114        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Lydia Edwards

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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 establishing housing training program for elected members of municipal boards.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 114        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing housing training program for elected members of municipal boards.

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

Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 134.  (a) The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shall establish and implement a comprehensive training program for all elected or appointed members of municipal boards or commissions that have within their purview land usage.  Such training program shall be developed in consultation with the Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative, the Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors, Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies, the American Planning Association, Massachusetts Chapter, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, MassHousing, and the office of the attorney general.  Instruction and training shall include, but need not be limited to: fair housing law and  municipal zoning authority and laws  Additional training elements may be added at the discretion of the Secretary.

(b) Members of said boards and commissions shall complete the comprehensive training program within 6 months of the beginning of the member’s term and within 4 years of the date of the member’s last training. A municipality may have annual or bi annual trainings.  Membership on a board or commission shall terminate and a vacancy shall exist if a member fails to complete the comprehensive training program within the period of time established by this section.  A vacancy on a board that exists as a result of this section shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner in which the prior appointment or election took place.