| Agency | Regulation # | Topic | Objective for Change |
| Department of Revenue | 503 CMR 2.00 | Reimbursement for Claims filed under the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund Administrative Review (UST Board) | Modified to give the 3 member panel of the UST Board the authority and the discretion to reduce or to eliminate, in appropriate circumstances, the automatic five percent reduction in the amount paid to a future claimant. |
| Department of Revenue | 830 CMR 62C.16.2 | Sales and use tax returns and payments | Modified to reflect recent changes to the filing schedule for materialmen, electronic filing methods, and penalties. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 231 CMR 3.00 | Prerequisites for individuals seeking architecture licensure | Modified to facilitate NCARB direct registration and to adopt up to date rules for internships that are being used nationally. Massachusetts currently uses internship rules from 2001 that are considered outdated. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 239 CMR 3.00 | Funeral home licensure and operations | Modified to simplify registration requirements for funeral directors, create a new registration for assistants and non-owning funeral directors, as well as numerous changes designed to enhance readability and clear up ambiguities. These changes also clarify requirements to open funeral home establishments, the provision of refreshments, and other aspects of the business such as rules clarifying liability insurance requirements. The new funeral assistant and non-owning funeral director registrations are anticipated to greatly benefit small businesses and employment in the industry. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 264 CMR 6.00 | Real estate appraiser licensing and operations | Modified to enhance training requirements and supervision of trainees and create new license designations to meet new software restrictions used by major mortgage providers. |
| Division of Banks | 209 CMR 35.00 | Check cashing by non-customer pensioners and retirees at banks and credit unions | The regulation should be rescinded because advances in technology which allow for direct deposit of pension payments rather than paper checks make the regulation unnecessary. Limitation on fees will be addressed by the DOB Regulatory Bulletin and state law. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 262 CMR §2.05 | Education and Degree Requirements for Licensed Mental Health Counselors | Modified to clarify rules governing the educational prerequisites for applicants for licensure and described more fully what an acceptable masters degree is and what post-masters degree education, if any, is necessary to complete those educational requirements. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 248 CMR 4.00 | Massachusetts Fuel Gas Code | Modified to conform regulation to current state law and bring the state code into compliance with the accepted national standard (NFPA 54 – 2012, NFPA 58 – 2011). Existing code is approx 10 years out of date. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 240 CMR 3.00 | Licensure and operation of cosmetology salons | Modified to clarify rules governing application licensure requirements, providing a means of transferring ownership of salons without disrupting business while new licenses are obtained, clarifying how and where non-cosmetology services may be provided in salons, and updating sanitary standards to remove antiquated requirements. |
| Division of Banks | 209 CMR 43.00 | Examination and audit requirements for state-chartered credit unions. | Modified to bring the examination and audit procedures up to date and consider duplication with federal jurisdiction |
| Division of Banks | 209 CMR 50.00 | Parity with federal credit unions | Modified to continue to offer new authorities in a manner that will make it easier for eligible credit unions to implement and remain competitive with federally chartered credit unions. Amendments to this regulation require a legislative hearing during formal sessions. |
| Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation | 201 CMR 14.00 | Private arbitration between homeowners & contractors | Modified to clarify the term “reasonable efforts” as it relates to the collection of an award or judgment against a contractor prior to qualifying for payment from the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, and to make the filing deadline more prominent and conspicuous |
| Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation | 201 CMR 11.00 | Operation of a state-certified new and used car arbitration program | Modified to grant the arbitrator more discretion on matters related to procedure (i.e. discovery, etc.) and to eliminate the requirement that a used car dealer that has been subjected to an arbitration proceeding to report to OCABR the number of used vehicles sold by said dealer during the previous year. Since this data is not used by OCABR for any material purpose, eliminating the requirement would ease a burden on small businesses without harming consumers. |
| Division of Professional Licensure | 231 CMR 3.00 | Prerequisites for individuals seeking architecture licensure | Modified to facilitate NCARB direct registration and to adopt up to date rules for internships that are being used nationally. |
| Division of Standards | 202 CMR 3.00 | Labeling of packaged commodities | Rescind to amend MGL c.94 x.182 to specifically adopt the nationally-recognized Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations contained in NIST Publication Handbook 130 and adopted by all states. |
| Office of Business Development | 760 CMR 22.00 | Tax Increment Financing | Modified to streamline the process and incorporate statutory changes passed in Ch. 240 of the Acts of 2010. |
| Early Education & Care | 606 CMR 10.00 | Child Care Subsidy | Modified to ensure that the subsidized child care program is better aligned with federal law, and to improve EEC efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse. In addition, by implementing changes in FY12, the Department will align the changes with the upcoming unified IT system, which should result in fewer change orders and less administrative expense. |
| Department of Elementary & Secondary Education | 603 CMR 38 | School Building Assistance Program | The regulation was rendered obsolete with the creation of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. |
| Early Education & Care | 102 CMR 5.00 | Standards for Licensure/Approval of Agencies Offering Child Placement and Adoption Services | Modified to update, incorporate best practices and improve the predictability of process. |
| Department of Higher Education | 610 CMR 2.00 | Degree Granting for Independent Institutions of Higher Learning | Modified to clarify existing ambiguities, address the continuing expansion of foreign, non-profit institutions in the Commonwealth, address increased distance learning activities of both domestic and foreign institutions within the Commonwealth, and aligning the Commonwealth’s regulations with federal requirements. |
| Department of Higher Education | 610 CMR 3.00 | Appointment of Volunteer Chief Executive Officers at State and Community Colleges | Rescinded because the regulation is obsolete. |
| Department of Higher Education | 610 CMR 11.00 | Optional Retirement Program | Modified to clarify existing ambiguities and codifying existing practices consistent with state law, as well as federal tax laws. As the Department continues its review, the Department will look to identify operational efficiencies, and to reduce administrative costs or burdens, where applicable. |
| Early Education & Care | 102 CMR 1.00 | Enforcement Standards and Definitions for Licensure or Approval | Modified to clarify ambiguities in the current regulations. |
| Early Education & Care | 102 CMR 3.00 | Standards for Licensure/Approval of Residential Programs Serving Children and Teen Parents | Modified to ensure compliance with EEC’s policies and regulations and those of sister state agencies such as ESE, DCF, DYS, and DDS, and to reduce administrative or costs burdens and to improve the predictability of the process. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 570.000 | Manufacture, Collection, and Bottling of Water and Carbonated Nonalcoholic Beverages | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 561.000 | Frozen Desserts and Frozen Dessert Mixes | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 500.000 | Good Manufacturing Practices for Food (Will incorporate, as necessary, amended provisions from 6 of the 10 sets of food regulations being rescinded) | Ten separate sets of regulations governing food products will be combined into an amended and updated eleventh regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. Requirements for the regulated community will be simplified by adoption of generic sanitation standards for all food products, and procedural requirements regarding licensure and enforcement will be clarified. This regulatory project will also allow the Department to update and modernize food safety requirements for all types of food manufacturing, some of which are severely outdated. The revised regulation will take into account national standards such as the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Model Ordinance and the Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 510.000 | Standards of Identity and Definitions of Purity and Quality of Food | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 520.000 | Labeling | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 530.000 | Sanitation in Meat and Poultry Processing Establishments | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 531.000 | Inspection of Meat Slaughtering and Processing | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 532.000 | Inspection of Poultry and Poultry Products | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 533.000 | Fish and Fishery Products | This regulation will be rescinded and its content, with some minor updating, will be put into an amended combined regulation, 105 CMR 500.000: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food. |
| Department of Public Health | 105 CMR 541.000 | Milk and Milk Products | Rescinded because this regulation is severely out of date and its contents are preempted by federal law and regulations. DPH has not enforces this regulation for many years. |
| MassDOT | 730 CMR 6.00 | Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Tourism Grant Program | Rescinded to eliminate a program that was repealed in law in 2009. |
| Registry of Motor Vehicles | 540 CMR 2.05(3)(b) | Rescinding specific requirement that certain vehicles with 5 or more wheels need to be registered with "commercial registration" plates | Rescinded to eliminate cost burdens on owners of personal use vehicles for which more than 5 wheels touch the ground. These personal use vehicles are currently required to register as commercial plates, which costs $240 every 2 yrs vs. the personal use plate which costs $50 every 2 yrs. |
| Registry of Motor Vehicles | 540 CMR 4.00 | Annual Safety & Combined Safety and Emissions Inspections of all motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers and converter dollies | Modified to clarify existing regulations, bring the regulations into compliance with state and federal safety and environmental laws, and reduce ambiguities in the inspection/repair industry. |
| Registry of Motor Vehicles | 540 CMR 13.00 | International Registration Plan | Modified to conform state regulation to the revised federal IRP Plan that took effect on January 1, 2011. |
| Registry of Motor Vehicles | 540 CMR 14.00 | Commercial Transport of Hazardous Materials | Modified to incorporate federal regulations and to authorize an audit procedure that is in compliance with MGL c. 90, s. 19L. |
| Aeronautics Division | 702 CMR 2.00 - 7.00 | Airport and Airplane Operations - Technical Corrections | Modified to make technical corrects that reflect changes of the Transportation Reform Act. |
| Aeronautics Division | 702 CMR 3.01 | Licensing of Airmen | Superseded by the FAA laws and regulations |
| Aeronautics Division | 703 CMR 3.02 | Licensing of Aircraft | Superseded by the FAA laws and regulations |
| Aeronautics Division | 703 CMR 4.21 | Operation of Airplanes in the Boston-Logan Airport Area | Rescinded This regulation is no longer needed. |
| Highway Division | 720 CMR 5.01-5.08 | Prequalification of Contractors For Highway Construction | Modified to make technical corrects that reflect changes of the Transportation Reform Act. |
| Highway Division | 720 CMR 5.09-5.13 | Prequalification of Surveyors and Prospective Bidders for Survey Services | Rescinded because this process has been replaced by a qualifications-based procurement process under MGL c.7 s.38P and c.112 s. 4 & 22. This regulation is no longer needed. |
| MassDOT | 701 CMR 5.00 | Public Works Economic Development Program | To rescind regulations pertaining to the PWED Program, which will be replaced by the MassWorks Infrastructure Program upon its passage (H3619 pending). |
| MassDOT | 701 CMR 6.00 | Transit Oriented Development Program | To rescind regulations pertaining to the TOD Program, which will be replaced by the MassWorks Infrastructure Program upon its passage (H3619 pending). |
| MassDOT | 720 CMR 11.00 | Small Town Rural Assistance Program | To rescind regulations pertaining to the STRAP Program, which will be replaced by the MassWorks Infrastructure Program upon its passage (H3619 pending). |
| Department of Agricultural Resources | 330 CMR 25.00 | Agricultural Composting Operations: Registration, Education and Technical Assistance | Modified to allow farmers to take on increased amounts of organic materials for composting and also to require that they undergo a training program to become certified in order to receive a registration. |
| Department of Agricultural Resources | 330 CMR 16.00 | Horseback Riding Schools and Instructors: Regulation and Licensing | Modified to bring regulations into conformance with Department of Public Safety, and to update CORI requirements for riding instructors |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 3.01 | Limitation of Hooks while Fishing for Shad in the Palmer River | DMF has determined that the elimination of this regulatory provision will not adversely impact the resource and may benefit small businesses by increasing sales of hook and line gear purchased by recreational fishermen from local bait and tackle shops. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 3.02 | Limitation of Hooks while Fishing for White Perch in the Agawam River | DMF has determined that the elimination of this regulatory provision will not adversely impact the resource. Repealing this rule may benefit tackle shop businesses by increasing sales of hook and line gear purchased by recreational fishermen. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 3.06 | Regulation Catch of Coho Salmon | In the late 1970’s DMF implemented a program to introduce coho salmon to the waters of Massachusetts, with the hopes they would spawn and populate the area. 322 CMR 3.06 was developed to regulate the catch of these fish. However, by the late 1980’s coho salmon failed to populate Massachusetts waters and the program was discontinued. This regulation is obsolete. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 6.08(3)(c) | Minimum Size for Surf Clam Fishery | Rescinded because current federal rules allow federal permit holders to possess surf clams that are below the Massachusetts minimum size provided that they were taken from federal waters. Eliminating the minimum size requirement would create more efficient fishing by doing away with the onerous process associated with separating the different sized clams. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 6.27(4)(a) | Scup and Seabass Reporting | DMF has determined that this regulation can be eliminated to reduce the burden of unnecessary reporting requirements and schedules. As commercial black sea bass and scup permit holders are currently required to file monthly trip level reports, it is duplicative to require these permit holders to also submit annual reports. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR c.34(4) | Horseshoe Crab Quota Monitoring | DMF has determined that this regulatory provision is no longer necessary. With wholesale dealers reporting horseshoe crab harvest on a weekly basis, the quota is currently efficiently monitored, and as a result, DMF no longer has to close the fishery to accurately count the harvest. If this provision was to be eliminated, fishermen and wholesale dealers would not have to concern themselves with a potential closure and could more efficiently plan their business activities. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 7.00 | Asbestos Removal Program Improvements | The planned reforms will improve the clarity of standards and requirements for asbestos abatement and asbestos waste management, provide flexibility for managing on-going abatement projects, and will create a tighter dovetail with related requirements for asbestos contractors that are overseen by the Department of Labor and Standards. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 40.0000 | Contingency Plan for Oil & Hazardous Materials Release Prevention and Response | Modified to streamline required elements for the deed notices put in place to limit future use of properties where some amount of residual contamination remains after cleanup - known as Activity and Use Limitations (AULs). |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 40.0000 | Contingency Plan for Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention & Response | Modified to eliminate the requirement for Tier I Permits and streamline/redesign the Tier Classification process and Numerical Ranking System (NRS) used to indicate the relative significance and priority of hazardous waste sites for clean up, and to clarify/improve provisions related to Tier Classification extensions. To update the disposal site closure requirements by clarifying source control requirements (including controlling residual non-aqueouse phase liquid), incorporating updated toxicity values into cleanup standards, establishing closure categories that provide for exposure pathway mitigation systems and addressing other assessment and closure concerns related to vapor intrusion. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 9.00 | Public Waterfront Act/C.91: Sequencing of Approvals | Modified to allow the sequencing of license review under 310 CMR 9.00 to run concurrently with project review under MEPA, and to allow license review to occur prior to issuance of a final Order of Conditions under the Mass. Wetlands Protection Act. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 9.00 | Public Waterfront Act/C.91: General Permit for Small Docks & Piers | Modified to implement a statutory directive to create a general license for small docks and piers, reducing the burden on the regulated public who propose to construct these low-impact, small scale structures, and allowing scarce agency staff resources to focus on larger and more complicated water-dependent and nonwater-dependent projects, which require greater scrutiny and more public process. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 9.00, 314 CMR 9.00, 310 CMR 10.00 | Dredging Permit Consolidation | Modified to reduce the overlap between separate regulatory requirements for certain coastal development projects, thereby easing regulatory burden on applicants while maintaining current levels of environmental protection, and to develop a common permit application that will allow applicants to apply for a 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) for dredging and a Ch. 91 Dredge Permit simultaneously, thereby reducing the submission of redundant information. The changes will allow the creation of a Unified Water Quality Certification and Dredge Permit. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 15.000 | Title V-Septic System Approvals: Remove Overlap | Modified to eliminate duplicative approvals currently issued by MassDEP for septic system variances, holding tanks, shared systems, alternative design flows where applicants are required to apply and receive approval from the local Boards of Health (BOHs) prior to submitting an application to DEP. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 5.00 | Groundwater Discharge Permit Compliance Program Improvements | Modified to require to dischargers to hire a qualified 3rd party professional to conduct a periodic compliance/structural assessment of the wastewater treatment facility based on the design life of the facility and expected need for repair and/or replacement. This will improve compliance assurance at groundwater discharge facilities while allowing MassDEP to reduce current levels of inspections. This will also enable agency personnel to target the highest risk facilities for inspection based on Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) reviews, complaints received and ongoing compliance/enforcement issues. This reform will not require any regulatory changes because the agency will be able to include standard conditions in individual permits that accomplish this outcome. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 9.00 | Public Waterfront Act/C.91: Simplified License Terms | To develop a written policy to guide project applicants and MassDEP staff in establishing license terms under c. 91 for non-water dependent uses. Currently, license terms are individually negotiated. By establishing expectations in policy, the proposal will reduce DEP staff time spent on such negotiations. The proposal will also allow for greater public input on the topic of license terms because the current negotiations take place largely outside of the public view. To ensure sufficient public benefits will be achieved for specified terms, MassDEP will take public comment before any policy is established. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 7.00 | Rideshare Program Streamlining | To streamline the employer reporting and survey requirements under the Rideshare program. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 314 CMR 7.00 | Eliminate Duplicative Sewer Extension Permits and Improve Operation & Maintenance of Wastewater Treatment | To eliminate the current state permit requirements for all sanitary and industrial connections and extensions of public sewer systems (314 CMR 7.00), which are duplicative of local permitting requirements. Also, to improve requirements for wastewater treatment and collection systems (314 CMR 12.00) in order to better address critical issues such as infiltration/inflow (I/I), capacity issues at the treatment facility and within the collection system, sanitary sewer overflows and industrial pretreatment programs. These amendments will better align Mass sewer permitting with other states. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 19.000 | Solid Waste Facilities: Improved Compliance via Certified 3rd Parties | Modified to expand the use of 3rd parties to support compliance at specific solid waste facilities or activities, such as at landfills. (This broadens current use of 3rd parties for waste ban inspections and for inspections at active solid waste management facilities.) |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 19.000 | Solid Waste Transfer Stations: Streamlined Approvals and Improved Compliance Program | Modified to shift current management and oversight of solid waste facilities to focus agency resources on those specific sectors/facilities where there is the greatest need for oversight while finding alternate methods to permit activities that are increasing environmental benefits and simplifying processes for permittees. Specific reforms include: 1) Streamline permitting for new transfer stations; 2) Streamline agency reviews for transfer station permit modifications; 3) Convert to a permit-by-rule the current requirement for a site-specific landfill Post Closure Use Permit for photo-voltaic renewable energy projects in certain situations; and 4) Narrow and clarify the “Special Waste” applicability. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 15.000 | 3rd Party Review of Innovative/Alternative Septic System Technologies | Modified to make regulatory changes to the sanitary wastewater septic systems (310 CMR 15) requirements that will allow a third party to review and approve innovative/alternative (I/A) technologies. This will administer innovative technology approvals in a manner similar to the existing provisions related to Soil Evaluator and System Inspector approvals. Stakeholders most impacted will be vendors of innovative/alternative septic system technologies. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 10.00 | Wetlands: Buffer Zone General Permit | Modified to establish a general permit or other similar regulatory provision for certain activities that are proposed for the outer fifty feet (50’) of the buffer zone to inland wetlands. This will save time for project proponents and for municipal Conservation Commissions, and will potentially reduce the number of applications under the Wetlands Protection Act that require detailed individual review. This will also reduce MassDEP staff time spent on Superseding Order of Conditions (SOC) review for buffer zone cases, and it has the potential to significantly benefit the environment by providing incentives for applicants to concentrate activity greater than 50’ from the resource area. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 10.00 | Wetlands: Streamlined Approvals for Ecological Restoration | Modified to make the regulatory process less complex and more efficient for pro-active ecological restoration projects such as dam removals, culvert replacements, inlet widening, stream daylighting, etc. This will provide expedited permitting for these projects that will affirmatively enhance the environment while decreasing the amount of agency time needed to review and issue approvals and simplifying proponent processes. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 10.00 | Wetlands: Streamlined Approvals for Certain Renewable Energy Projects | Modified to create a “limited project” provision under the Wetlands Protection Act regulations to facilitate the review of certain renewable energy projects (those designed to produce power from wind, solar, tidal, or hydropower), and to provide clearer guidance to project proponents regarding permitting pathways. Will also provide municipal conservation commissions with clarity regarding the review of renewable energy projects. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 10.00 | Wetlands: Targeted Review | Modified to prioritize a variety of MassDEP's Wetlands Protection Act program activities, including immediate issuance of file numbers; increased focus on Superseding Orders of Condition; and increased priority based on significance of wetlands resource impacts. This will reduce MassDEP time spent on lower-value added tasks and will reduce delays for project proponents and Conservation Commissions. MassDEP is committed to maintaining current levels of municipal assistance, and will prioritize increasing these activities when resources allow. MassDEP will develop an internal policy that will guide staff efforts to review wetlands submittals, but this policy will not prevent MassDEP staff from supporting Conservation Commissions that seek and require MassDEP’s assistance. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | TBA | Various Programs (TBA): Streamlined Permit Renewals | Modified to provide for presumptive approvals in certain circumstances where the permit applicant can certify that there have not been changes to either the permitted activity nor applicable regulatory standards since initial approval and where the activity has maintained its compliance status. This option will only be available to projects/parties that are currently in compliance and MassDEP will retain the ability to audit and take enforcement with respect to the submitted certifications. Approvals for land application of sludge and septage, as well as sanitary wastewater groundwater discharge permits, are preliminary candidates for this streamlining. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 10.00 | Wetlands: Exempting Man-made Stormwater Management Structures | Modified to exempt wetlands “resource areas” created by stormwater management structures (e.g. man-made stormwater retention basins) if the stormwater system meets DEP’s performance standards. This will reduce agency time spent and streamline processes for external stakeholders by reducing the need to address these man-made stormwater structures under the more time-consuming process for regulated resource areas. |
| Department of Environmental Protection | 310 CMR 9.00 | Public Waterfront Act, Water Quality Certification & Wetlands: Approving New Technologies | Modified to modify one or more of the coastal permitting programs (Wetlands, Public Waterfront Act/C.91, 401 Water Qualtity Cert) to provide opportunities for regulatory approval of innovative projects, particularly for clean energy projects (wind, hydrokinetic), on a “pilot” basis. A distinct regulatory pathway for innovative technologies is responsive to the limited resources typically available to companies seeking to test such devices. |
| Department of Agricultural Resources | 330 CMR 7.00 | Agricultural Fairs: Consistent quality exhibit representation | Modified to update regulations and bring them into line with commonly accepted rules for competitive agricultural fairs in place in other states. |
| Department of Agricultural Resources | 333 CMR 4.00 | Advisory Councils to the Pesticide Board | Rescinded because the regulations are obsolete and the Advisory Councils have not been in place for 20 years. The Pesticide Board has a more efficient, effective and comprehensive means for collecting input from stakeholders, therefore DAR recommends rescission of this section. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 7.10(5)(b) | Notification of Rules by Recreational Fishing Operations | DMF has determined that it is redundant to require charter boat captains post these fishery rules or face non-compliance fines when verbal notice is sufficient given the small size of the vessels. Many of the state’s charter vessels are 20-30’ center console vessels with limited space to post such notices. Therefore, DMF finds it appropriate to exempt charter vessels from the requirement that operators conspicuously post written rules. However, operators shall still be required to give verbal notice to all persons fishing on board their vessels of the minimum sizes and bag limits for all target species. |
| Division of Marine Fisheries | 322 CMR 12.04(2)(b) & (c) and (3) | Seasonal Gillnet Closures and Gear Restrictions | Rescinded because current state regulations conflict with federal regulations. DMF proposes to eliminate state regulations as the federal rules now extend into state waters, reducing ambiguities and confusion that could lead to accidental non-compliance and fines between $2,000 -$10,000. |
| Department of Public Utilities | 220 CMR 1.00 | Procedural Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Department | Modified to incorporate electronic filing procedures that are currently in place in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and at US Courts. |
| Department of Public Utilities | 220 CMR 260.00 | Carrier Proof Insurance Coverage, Filing of Tariffs and Vehicle Identification Devices | Modified to allow e-filing of tariffs and fees, a practice commonly utilized by other jurisdictions. |
| Department of Fish and Game | 321 CMR 9.01 | List of Exotic Wildlife that are Exempt from Obtaining a Permit for Possession | Modified to expand the list of exotic wildlife that are appropriate for permit exemption, which in turn will eliminate the need for pet stores seeking to possess and sell such wildlife to obtain a DFW permit. |
| Department of Fish and Game | 321 CMR 3.02 (1), (3), (4), (5) and (9), and 321 CMR 3.06 | Hunting, Particular Game and Classes of Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping License | Modified to allow a licensed hunter to report their game harvests online providing a convenient, cost-effective alternative for the hunters. The proposed regulatory changes will create a new online electronic licensing system and eliminate the need for “duplicate” fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses. |
| Department of Labor Standards | 453 CMR 7.00 | Apprenticeship and Registration | Modified to standardize our state's practices with those in place elsewhere in the country. |
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Proposed Regulatory Changes 