Massachusetts S 557: Resolve to create a commission to determine the feasibility of voluntary acquisition of flood risk properties and structures

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1154 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marc R. Pacheco
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
resolve:
Resolve to create a commission to determine the feasibility of voluntary acquisition of flood risk
properties and structures.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Marc R. Pacheco Third Bristol and Plymouth
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester 2/10/2023
Thomas M. Stanley 9th Middlesex 2/10/2023
Julian Cyr Cape and Islands 2/10/2023
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 2/21/2023
Kay Khan 11th Middlesex 2/21/2023
Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk 3/13/2023
Carol A. Doherty 3rd Bristol 3/27/2023
Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex 3/27/2023
Pavel Payano First Essex 12/28/2023

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1154 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 557
By Mr. Pacheco, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 557) of Marc R. Pacheco,
Michael O. Moore, Thomas M. Stanley, Julian Cyr and other members of the General Court that
provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members
of the General Court) to determine the feasibility of voluntary acquisition of flood risk properties
and structures. Environment and Natural Resources.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve to create a commission to determine the feasibility of voluntary acquisition of flood risk
properties and structures.

1 Resolved, there shall be established a commission known as the voluntary acquisition of
2 flood risk properties commission, which shall assess the advantages and disadvantages of
3 voluntary acquisition of flood risk properties and structures across the commonwealth, examine
4 the feasibility of such a program, and identify the components of such a program. The climate
5 chief in the office of climate innovation and resilience, the secretary of energy and
6 environmental affairs, and the director of the Massachusetts emergency management agency
7 shall collectively implement and oversee the commission’s work.
8 The commission shall consist of the following members or their designee: the climate
9 chief in the office of climate innovation and resilience, who shall serve as co-chair, the secretary
10 of energy and environmental affairs, who shall serve as co-chair; the director of the
11 Massachusetts emergency management agency, who shall serve as co-chair; the secretary of the
12 executive office of housing and economic development; the director of the bureau of relocation;

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13 the commissioner of the department of environmental protection; the director of coastal zone
14 management; the director of the division of ecological restoration; the director of the department
15 of conservation and recreation flood management program; the minority leader of the senate; the
16 minority leader of the house; and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
17 environment, natural resources and agriculture.
18 The commission shall include ten (10) additional members appointed by the chair; 1 of
19 whom shall be a representative of a statewide land conservation organization, 1 of whom shall be
20 a representative of a river protection organization, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a
21 statewide wildlife protection organization, 1 of whom shall be a representative of an
22 environmental justice organization, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a housing justice
23 organization, 1 of whom shall be a representative of an organization with expertise in
24 homeowner property and casualty insurance licensed in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be a
25 representative of an organization with expertise in mortgages, 1 of whom shall have academic
26 expertise in climate data and flooding, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a regional planning
27 agency in a flood risk area and 1 of whom shall be a professional engineer licensed in
28 Massachusetts. The members of the commission shall be appointed not later than 30 days after
29 the effective date of this act and shall serve until the completion of the report described in
30 paragraph (g).
31 The chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, and the chairs
32 of the joint committee on housing, or their designees, shall be observers to the commission and
33 shall be invited to all meetings of the commission.

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34 The commission shall seek and use the best available climate data and models, and sea
35 level rise, tidal, coastal, riverine flooding data, and models, to present an understanding of the
36 current and future flood risk to inland and