SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1415        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patrick M. O'Connor

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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 relative to lobstering closure mitigation.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1415        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

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 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 as they work through the process of incorporation. 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 of marine fisheries, and the term “trap” shall mean a lobster tag 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 lobster trap tag per week. Eligibility for said payments shall be available through January 1 and shall terminate on June 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 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 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. The Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations to determine progress toward incorporation made by all recipients no later than January 1 annually.

(a)Lobstermen who are found to have not made sufficient progress toward incorporation after their first year of receiving closure mitigation payments shall not be eligible for further payments until such progress is made.

(b)The Secretary of State shall host an annual information session for lobstermen to educate recipients on the incorporation process and provide resources to assist with incorporation.

SECTION 3. 3 fiscal years after the effective date of this act, the Fund shall be dissolved.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.