Amendment #635 to H4000

Establishing a State Climatologist

Representatives Smizik of Brookline, Walsh of Framingham and Provost of Somerville move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXX.  Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 24. The chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in consultation with the secretary of energy and environmental affairs shall appoint a state climatologist.The state climatologist shall be housed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and shall (a) gather and archive data on climate conditions around the commonwealth; (b) conduct and foster research concerning the climate of the commonwealth and look for opportunities for sponsored research concerning climate issues around the commonwealth; (c) coordinate with the Northeast Regional Climate Change Center housed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst by the federal Department of the Interior; (d) educate and inform citizens of the commonwealth on matters related to climate. The state climatologist shall advise all other branches of state and local government concerning the climate of the commonwealth and its implications for both economic and scientific needs in conjunction with all existing and future environmental factors relating to the climate of the commonwealth. The state climatologist shall maintain liaison with federal and other state and academic institutions and join federal and international climate interest groups. The state climatologist shall serve for a term of 5 years, but may be reappointed. The climatologist shall be jointly funded by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the executive office of energy and environmental affairs."