By Mr. Quinn of Dartmouth, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 843) of John F. Quinn for legislation to provide for an income tax deduction for the purchase of certain water conserving plants and items.  Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

John F. Quinn

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to promote water conservation .

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Revenue shall, in consultation with the Department of Agricultural Resources, create a fifty percent personal income tax credit on the purchase and installation of up to five-hundred dollars worth of WaterWise plants and landscaping items.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall develop a list of WaterWise plants and landscaping items intended to reduce water usage, including, but not limited to: drought resistant plants that last for more than one year; kits or devices specifically designed for generating compost; grey-water recovery systems where the effluent is used for watering plants; rainwater recovery and storage devices where they are used for watering plants; rain sensors for irrigation systems; and, underground drip irrigation systems.