Amendment ID: S3050-6-R1

Redraft Amendment 6

Municipal Reforestation

Ms. Creem, Ms. Comerford, Messrs. Collins and Keenan, Ms. Kennedy, Ms. Jehlen, Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Eldridge and Payano and Ms. Lovely move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 9 the following section:-

“SECTION 9A. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 32. (a) The secretary shall establish a municipal reforestation program to provide municipalities with grants and technical assistance to assist in developing science-based tree management plans and, consistent with such plans, planting and maintaining trees on public land or private lands with the consent of the owner and subject to appropriate covenants that shall assure the continued presence and effectiveness of such planted trees.

(b) Municipalities participating in the municipal reforestation program shall prioritize the planting of trees in areas experiencing heat island effects or that are underserved with tree cover and shall seek to preserve existing trees and urban forests. Municipalities participating in the municipal reforestation program shall, whenever feasible, purchase locally sourced native trees. A municipality participating in the municipal reforestation program may enter into an agreement with another municipality, a regional group of municipalities, a regional planning agency or the department of conservation and recreation to purchase trees in bulk.

(c) The secretary may secure funding from public or private sources for the municipal reforestation program and shall seek any federal funding available to support the program. The program shall provide technical assistance to municipalities, nonprofit organizations and regional planning agencies in identifying and applying for any federal funding that is available to support urban forests or municipal tree planting programs.

(d) A municipality may enter into an agreement with another municipality, a regional group of municipalities, a regional planning agency or a nonprofit organization to jointly apply to the municipal reforestation program.”.