Sen. Bruce Tarr

April 18, 2024 -- The committee on Municipalities and Regional Government to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1309) of Mark C. Montigny, Adam Gomez, Jacob R. Oliveira, Jack Patrick Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to increase kennel safety aka Ollie’s Law, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2731).

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2544) of Bruce E. Tarr and Ann-Margaret Ferrante (with the approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to poll locations in the city of Gloucester. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.]

By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2533) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile and others relative to death benefits for surviving spouses of call and volunteer firefighters. Public Service.

By Representative Muratore of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3199) of Mathew J. Muratore and others for legislation to update the decommissioning oversight of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require research institutions and product testing facilities to prioritize the adoption of dogs and cats after studies, rather than euthanizing them. Facilities must make reasonable efforts to place these animals with licensed rescue organizations or permanent homes, unless the animal has medical or behavioral issues that pose risks or is being kept by an employee. The legislation also mandates annual public reporting on the number of animals euthanized, adopted, or deemed unsuitable for adoption to increase transparency. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these facilities are not legally liable for any injuries or damages that occur after an animal is adopted through this process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new law in Massachusetts requiring private companies to protect personal biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial scans, and voiceprints. It mandates that businesses must obtain written consent from individuals before collecting this data and clearly explain why it is being used and how long it will be kept. Companies are also required to create a written policy for storing and eventually destroying this information once its original purpose is fulfilled. The law specifically excludes medical records and standard photographs from these requirements, focusing only on unique physiological traits used for identification.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program called the Accessibility in the Creative Economy (ACE) to help arts, humanities, and interpretive science organizations in Massachusetts become more accessible to people with disabilities. The program will be managed by the Office on Disability, which will collect funds from a dedicated portion of the state budget, donations, and investment income to support projects. A special board, led by individuals with disabilities, will oversee the grants and decide how money is used for things like physical upgrades such as ramps and elevators, training for staff, and consulting services. Eligible recipients include for-profit, non-profit, and public organizations, with a preference given to artists living in the state. Grants will be awarded competitively based on their potential to create positive impacts for people with disabilities while also considering racial, geographic, and programmatic diversity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new independent state agency called the Climate Policy Commission to oversee climate-related policy in Massachusetts. The commission will be governed by a board of eleven members appointed by various officials, including the governor, attorney general, and energy secretary, with specific requirements for expertise in areas like climate science and representation from low-income communities. The commission will operate without direct supervision from other executive offices, have its own budget, and produce reports that cannot be blocked by other state agencies. It will also hire a paid executive director to manage day-to-day operations and administrative tasks.