Below is a list of legislation that I have filed for the 2009-2010 legislative session, along with brief summaries of each bill. To view each bill in its entirety, you can search for it by bill number or keyword at http://www.mass.gov/legis/hbillsrch.htm.

H883 – An Act Relative to Producer Responsibility for Discarded Electronic Products – This bill requires producers of electronic waste (e-waste), - i.e. computers, televisions and printers, - to be financially responsible for the proper disposal of their end-of-life products. The bill aims to vastly reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals leaching into landfills from e-waste disposal, by increasing public accessibility of e-waste recycling, while also taking the financial burden of collecting and recycling e-waste products off of municipalities and placing it instead on the manufacturers.

H2161 – An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products – This bill would restrict the usage of cleaning products in specified public buildings to a list of environmentally preferred products.

H831 – An Act Relative to Mercury Added Thermostats – This bill creates a “bounty” system to encourage the safe disposal of mercury-containing thermostats.  The bill also requires manufacturers of thermostats and the DEP to educate consumers about disposal options for thermostats.  

H834 – An Act Relative to Sustainable Water Resources – This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt regulations establishing standards for restoring and maintaining stream flow in the rivers and streams of the Commonwealth. In addition, the bill updates the state’s dam safety statute, allows for municipal water banking and sets up a Special Water Infrastructure Finance Commission.

H2908 – An Act Creating a Local Option Allowing a Tax Credit for the Cost of Purchase and Installation of Alternative Energy Equipment – This bill would create a local option allowing a tax credit for the cost of purchase and installation of alternative energy equipment.

H835 – An Act Relative to Genetically Modified Pharmaceutical Crops  -- This bill prohibits genetically modified crops, which includes the subset pharmaceutical crops, from being grown in open air fields or test plots within the Commonwealth until regulations are promulgated. 

H1729 – An Act to Amend the Foreclosure Statute to Require Judicial Foreclosure – This bill would require a judicial order to initiate foreclosure proceedings on residential mortgages, bringing Massachusetts in line with 29 other states.

H3689 – An Act Authorizing Municipalities to Protect Low and Moderate Income Tenants and Units of Governmentally Involved Housing – This bill would encourage owners of governmentally involved housing to accept incentives to keep such housing affordable and avert displacement of tenants who may be threatened with eviction.

H2160 – An Act to Regulate the Use of Medical Marijuana By Physicians and Certified By the Department of Public Health – This bill would allow for the medical usage of marijuana under certain medical circumstances.

H504 – An Act Concerning the MCAS Test – This bill would allow multiple forms of assessment in determining whether a student has met the level of competency as required by this section. A minimum score of 240 would not be the sole measure of proficiency.

H505 – An Act Concerning the Science and Technology MCAS Test – This bill would insure that each secondary school be allocated the required learning materials before commencing MCAS testing on science and technology.

H3040 – An Act Exempting Owners From Providing An Indemnity For Certain Lost Or Stolen Registered Bonds – This bill would allow the Treasurer to substitute for the lost or stolen Commonwealth of Massachusetts registered bond certificate, sixty days after the Commonwealth of Massachusetts registered bond certificate has been reported in writing lost or stolen by the registered owner.

H306 – An Act Relative to Cosmetologists – This bill would increase the civil administration penalties for certain violations by professional licensees.

H2600 – An Act to Place Certain Job Titles in the Division Of State Parks and Recreation in the Department of Conservation and Recreation Under the Civil Service System - This bill states that the following positions in the Division of State Parks and Recreation in the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall be made permanent positions and placed under Chapter 31 of the Massachusetts General Laws: Recreational Facility Supervisor 1, 2, 3, and 4; Recreational Facility Repairer; Supervisor Rink and Pool; Forest and Park Regional Coordinator; and Laborer 1.

H503 – An Act to Provide Certain Materials, Funding, and Staffing Levels for School Library Media Centers – This bill would include school libraries in foundation budgets for school districts.

H502 – An Act Relative to the Rights of Students, Teachers and Legal Guardians to Diagnostic Use of MCAS Test Scores and to the MCAS Appeals Process – This bill would send MCAS test scores and answers to legal guardians and teachers prior to the disclosure of scores.

H2601 – An Act Relative to the University of Massachusetts Boston Lecturers’ Retirement – This bill would allow certain part-time professors at UMASS Boston to discontinue their participation in an optional retirement plan.

H832 – An Act Establishing an Industrial Hemp Legalization Commission – This bill would create a commission to study the economic, industrial and agricultural viability of legalizing industrial hemp in the Commonwealth.

H3124 – An Act Relative to Expanding Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth –This legislation establishes energy efficiency standards for a range of common consumer appliances, including televisions, portable light fixtures, DVD players, compact audio products, bottled water dispensers, portable electric spas, and commercial hot food holding cabinets. This will result in both energy savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

H3330 – An Act Relative to the Regulation of Snow and Recreational Vehicles – This legislation strengthens the laws regarding the use of snow and recreational vehicles in three ways: by enhancing rider safety, reducing environmental impacts, and increasing the fines for illegal snow and recreational vehicle use on municipal and state conservation lands. 

In addition, below are the bills that I have filed on behalf of the Town of Brookline this session, along with Representatives Moran, Sanchez, and Rush, and Senator Creem:

H3826 – An Act Amending Chapter 534 of the Acts of 1973 Relative to the Office of Chief of the Fire Department of the Town of Brookline – The position of Fire Chief will be appointed by the Board of Selectmen and serve for a period of one year.

H3713­ – An Act Authorizing the Town of Brookline to Lease Town-Owned Property for an Additional Twenty Years – The Town of Brookline has permission to lease the town-owned property of 19-25 Kennard Road to the Brookline Music School for an additional twenty years.

H3719 – An Act Amending Chapter 472 of the Acts of 1998 – The Town of Brookline requests the permission to form a sovereign, self-directed board of seven members to oversee the Healthcare Liability Trust Fund for retired citizens. Five members will be from the Brookline retirement board, while the remaining two members will be chosen by the Board of Selectmen. The board can collaboratively use the fund’s assets and appoint any financial institution they find eligible to benefit the fund.  

H3712 – An Act Amending Chapter 317 of the Acts of 1974 to Allow the Town of Brookline, Through Its Board of Selectmen, to Sell Taxi Licenses – This bill allows the Town of Brookline to generate revenue by selling licenses to operate taxis, and in doing so, balance any competing interests in maintaining the continuity of existing taxi businesses, acknowledging the investment by existing taxi license holders in their businesses, and augmenting the portion of the taxi fleet serving the town that meets the needs of its elderly and disabled residents and that minimizes the fleet’s detrimental impact on the town’s air quality and on the level of the town’s carbon emissions as a whole.