Amendment ID: S2722-4

Amendment 4

Social Equity

Mr. Cyr, Ms. Miranda, Ms. Edwards and Mr. Eldridge move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following sections:-

SECTION X. Section 1 of chapter 94G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting   the following definitions:

“LGBTQ+ business enterprise”, a business that is at least 51 per cent owned, operated and controlled by one or more individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community, and that is certified by the supplier diversity office established in section 61 of chapter 7, or by a certification body recognized by said office.

“Disadvantaged business enterprise”, a business holding certification recognized by the Cannabis Control Commission for purposes of expedited licensing review or fee waivers, including, without limitation, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and LGBTQ+ business enterprises certified by the supplier diversity office.

SECTION X. Section 4 of said chapter 94G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, after the words “priority applicants”, in line 86, the following words:- “, LGBTQ business enterprises, and other disadvantaged business enterprises”.

SECTION X. Section 14A of said chapter 94G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting in subsection (a), after the words “economic empowerment priority applicants,” the following words:- “LGBTQ+ business enterprises and other disadvantaged business enterprises,”.

SECTION X. Section 22 of said chapter 94G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding, after the word “applicants”, in line 9, the following words:- , “, LGBTQ+ business enterprises”.

SECTION X. (a) Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, the Cannabis Control Commission shall promulgate regulations to implement the changes effected to sections 4, 14A, and 22 of chapter 94G, as amended by this act.