An Act relative to the architectural access board

Summary

This legislation makes changes to state disability regulations that have fallen behind federal standards in the past decade. The bill addresses these shortfalls by including an additional member of the disability advocacy community on the board. Importantly, the legislation extends the AAB’s regulatory authority to employee areas of public buildings. It also expands their authority to spaces around buildings (parking lots, sidewalks) and aligns the definition of “public building” with ADA regulations.

An Act relative to marijuana-related revenue in the town of Millbury

Summary

During the Annual Town Meeting held on May 1, 2018, the residents of the Town of Millbury voted, pursuant to Section 5B of Chapter 40 of the MGLs, to establish 5 stabilization funds.  These stabilization funds would receive the revenues generated from the taxes on the sale of marijuana.  Under the current rules in Millbury, all revenues derived from taxes on the sale of marijuana would be deposited into the General Fund.  This home rule petition would update this rule and direct the funds into the stabilization accounts created under the special act.

An Act establishing local emergency management agencies

Summary

This bill would allow municipalities to establish a Local Emergency Management Agencies. These agencies would be organized and run by a director, who would report directly to the municipality’s appointing authority (Mayor or City manager for a city, or the Town Manager or Town Administrator in towns). The Agency would have the authority to utilize and coordinate the services, equipment, supplies and facilities of the town in response. This would only take effect in the case of a declaration of a state of emergency by the appointing authority and would be superseded by any declaration made by the Governor.

An Act providing for an equitable Massachusetts teachers’ retirement system pension for Paul C. Norberg

Summary

This “by request” bill works to provide for an equitable rate of annuity, under the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System, for Paul C. Nordberg. Mr. Nordberg is a resident of Auburn, Massachusetts, a teacher working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and a member of the MTRS. According to this bill, Mr. Norberg would be entitled to either of the following options: (1) In the event that, at the time of his retirement from teaching with any school system that is a member of the MTRS, Mr. Nordberg’s then age and then years of membership and contribution to the MTRS add to at least eighty-five (85), Mr. Nordberg shall be entitled to a pension in the amount of seventy percent (70%) of the average of his three (3) highest paid years while working as a teacher contributing to the MRTS; or (2) In the event that, at the time of his retirement from teaching with any school system that is a member of the MTRS, Mr. Nordberg’s then age and then years of membership and contribution to the MTRS add to at least eighty-five (90), Mr. Nordberg shall be entitled to a pension in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the average of his three (3) highest paid years while working as a teacher contributing to the MRTS.

An Act Establishing a Special Commission on the Dover Amendment

Summary

This legislation establishes a special commission to study the use and effectiveness of the zoning approval process of educational uses under the so-called Dover Amendment, section 3 of chapter 40A of the General Laws. The commission shall study the impact of the education exemption provided by the Dover Amendment on municipalities and nonprofit education institutions, which shall include a review of the types of building projects sited under the protection of the dover amendment and the case law decided on the educational exemption. The commission shall file the results of its study together with recommendations for legislation, which shall include a proposed definition of “educational purposes”, with the clerks of the House and Senate.

An Act relative to a municipality’s right of first refusal of agricultural land

Summary

Chapter 61A §14 and Chapter 61B §9 of the General Laws pertain to the process in which a city or town has the option to exercise, waive or assign its right of first refusal of agricultural and recreational land when a property owner seeks to sell or use land, subject to these provisions, for non-agricultural or recreational purposes. The existing statutory timelines, however, are not conducive a municipality’s ability to effectively conduct the required due diligence of a potential land acquisition; particularly communities that have a town meeting form of government. The bill extends the existing time period a municipality (i) may exercise its right of first refusal, and (ii) to fulfill the purchase and sale contract. The bill would establish a 30-day timeline in which the seller may accept the purchase and sale agreement. The legislation also seeks to clarify the existing law by ensuring that communities are not required to purchase land that is not classified under Chapter 61A or Chapter 61B, even if the non-61A or non-61B property is included within the same purchase and sale agreement provided to the municipality by the landowner.

An Act to Assist Municipal and District Ratepayers

Summary

This legislation establishes a provision that any new rule, regulation or "guidance" issued by a state environmental agency must undergo a cost-benefit and cost impact analysis in order to consider whether compliance costs and environmental improvements are equitable.  As municipalities are asked to do more with limited funds, it is critical that local funds be applied where they will make the greatest effect.