{"AmendmentNumber":"406","ParentBillNumber":"S3064","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"DMR1","Name":"David M. Rogers","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/DMR1","ResponseDate":"2026-06-16T14:15:09.763"},"Category":null,"Action":"Consolidated","RollCall":[],"Title":"Commission to study the threat of invasive species ","Branch":"House","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Mr. Rogers of Cambridge moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:\r\n\r\nSECTION 1. (a) There is hereby established a special legislative commission pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study and make recommendations regarding invasive species management in the commonwealth.\r\n\r\n(b) The Commission shall consist of the following members: the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on environment and natural resources or their designees; a representative from department of conservation and recreation; one member of a statewide conservation organization; one member of a statewide river organization; a representative from the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group; a representative from a land trust; a representative from a native plant organization; a representative of an association of conservation commissions; a representative from the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program of the department of fish and game; a representative from the division of ecological restoration of the department of fish and game; a representative from the department of agricultural resources; a representative of a plant nursery association; a representative of a landscape association; a representative from the massachusetts congress of lake and pond associations; a representative from a massachusetts biodiversity research institute or university; and; a veterinarian or biologist conducting research and monitoring of wildlife and plant diseases that are presently infecting flora and fauna in the state.\r\n\r\nAll appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. The Commission shall convene its first meeting not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.\r\n(c) The Commission shall investigate and report on: (i) the overall state of invasive species in the commonwealth (ii) the feasibility of the creation of an Invasive Species Trust Fund to provide funds to municipalities, or group of municipalities, a cooperative invasive species management area, a non-profit or an agency of the state to control invasive species; (iii) the feasibility of the creation of a comprehensive invasive species office for the purpose of promoting the ecological integrity of the state’s lands and waterways by controlling invasive species and strategically coordinating management efforts across the state; (iv) how to prevent the introduction or re-introduction of invasive or potentially invasive species; (v) how to eradicate or control invasive species through early detection and rapid response and best management practices; (vi) how to target invasive species education to the general public, schools, industries, government agencies, and other organizations, and (iv) facilitate development and support of cooperative invasive species management areas that maximize regional resources and impact; (vii) how to best work with municipalities on invasives species control.\r\n\r\n(d) No later than 1 year after the effective date of this act, the Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, to the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, and file the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on environment and natural resources. The commission shall also, at all meetings, provide updates on the status of its findings and recommendations.\r\n"}