Amendment ID: S2090-74

Amendment 74

Border State Impact Study

Messrs. O'Connor and Moore move to amend the bill by inserting at the end the following new section:-

SECTION 39. Chapter 94G of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

“SECTION XX. Border State Impact Study.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study the potential impacts on bordering states that may result from the legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts. Topics of study shall include, but not be limited to, increases in funding to law enforcement agencies, increases in arrests for drug possession, and increases in marijuana distribution within states where marijuana is illegal.

The special commission shall consist of: the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, or their designee; the commissioner of the department of public health, or their designee; the superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, or their designee; the president of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, or their designee; the president of the New England Society for Healthcare Communications, or their designee; two members of the House of Representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; two members of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that the first meeting of the commission shall take place not later than December 1, 2017.

The special commission shall submit its findings and recommendations for how to mitigate or prevent any potential impacts on bordering states, together with drafts of any legislation, to the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse not later than July 1, 2018.”