HOUSE DOCKET, NO.                 FILED ON: 11/15/2018

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4962

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

Resolve An Act establishing an agricultural tourism study commission.

Resolved, that there shall be a special commission on agricultural tourism to study opportunities that support, expand and enhance agricultural tourism in the commonwealth. The commission shall review: state and municipal laws and regulations relative to agricultural zoning; policies and grant programs offered by the department of agricultural resources, including the agricultural preservation restriction program; programs offered by the office of travel and tourism; and national best practices to implement agricultural tourism.

The commission shall consist of the following 11 persons: the commissioner of the department of agricultural resources or a designee, who shall serve as the chair; the executive director of the office of travel and tourism or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; and 4 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Incorporated; and 2 of whom shall be representatives from the agricultural tourism industry.

The commission shall file its report, together with the results of its study, recommendations and drafts of its recommended legislation, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development not later than December 31, 2019.