HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4255 FILED ON: 6/4/2021
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Daniel R. Carey
_________________
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 relative to protecting the archaeological, geological and fossil resources of
Massachusetts.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Daniel R. Carey 2nd Hampshire 6/4/2021
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4255 FILED ON: 6/4/2021
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[Pin Slip]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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Resolve relative to protecting the archaeological, geological and fossil resources of
Massachusetts.
1 Resolved, There is hereby established a special commission on protecting the
2 archaeological, geological, and fossil resources of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said
3 special commission shall review existing special and general laws, may hold hearings at various
4 locations across the Commonwealth to obtain written and oral testimony and may consult with
5 state and federal agencies, educators, technical experts, town boards and commissions and
6 Native American tribes to determine if existing state laws and regulations adequately protect and
7 provide public access to the archaeological, geological and fossil resources located within or
8 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Said special commission shall be comprised of two
9 members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, whose districts have
10 significant fossil, archaeological or geological deposits, one of which shall be from a district in
11 western Massachusetts that includes a portion of the Connecticut river valley; two members of
12 the Senate, appointed by the President, whose districts have significant fossil, archaeological or
13 geological deposits, one of which shall be from a district in western Massachusetts that includes
14 a portion of the Connecticut river valley; the State Geologist or a designee; nine of whom shall
15 be appointed by the Governor, of which one shall be a professor of archaeology from a
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16 Massachusetts college or university, one of whom shall be a recognized authority on
17 Massachusetts geological formations who is a professor at a Massachusetts college or university,
18 one whom shall be an environmental police officer, two who shall be members of town historical
19 commissions within the region and four of whom shall be of Native American descent or active
20 in efforts to preserve and educate the public about Native American living, meeting, spiritual and
21 burial sites and ways of life; one member shall be appointed by the secretary of the
22 commonwealth, who shall be knowledgeable of the archaeological and historic resources of the
23 Connecticut river valley. Said special commission shall review all statutes, regulations,
24 ordinances and practices related to these resources, including but not limited to how public and
25 private institutions and agencies collect, preserve, display, notify the public of discoveries, return
26 objects and sacred remains to Native American tribes and related organizations and provide
27 public access to educate and inform the public about these archaeological, geological and fossil
28 discoveries. Said special commission may receive funding through state appropriation or grants,
29 federal appropriation or grants, private gifts and donations, provided, that said special
30 commission shall file its report with the joint committee on environment, natural resources and
31 agriculture and the clerks of the House and Senate no later than November 1, 2022.
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