The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera
Jarrett T. Barrios
Scott P. Brown
Robert K. Coughlin
Barbara A. L'Italien
Stephen R. Canessa
Jennifer L. Flanagan
Mary S. Rogeness
Stephen M. Brewer
William C. Galvin
Susan Williams Gifford
Denis E. Guyer
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Christopher J. Donelan
Brian A. Joyce
Cleon H. Turner
Jeffrey Davis Perry
James E. Timilty
John W. Scibak
Jennifer M. Callahan
Elizabeth A. Poirier
Stephen Kulik
Allen J. McCarthy
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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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. Section 3 of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 311, the word “chief” and inserting in place thereof the following words: - “state”
SECTION 2. Section 30 of Chapter 132 General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following sentence: -
The forest fire observation towers operated by the department shall be manned in accordance with the National Fire Danger Rating System when the weather so warrants and shall be at the discretion of the state fire warden.
SECTION 3. Chapter 132A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended in place thereof the following section:-
There shall be in the division of forest and parks a bureau of forest fire control under the direction and control of the state fire warden, a bureau of forestry under the direction and control of the chief forester and a bureau of recreation under the direction and control of a chief of recreation. The director of the division of forest and parks shall, subject to the approval of the commissioner, appoint for a term of five years, outside the provisions of chapter thirty-one, the chief of recreation, who shall be qualified by training and experience to administer the duties of his office. With like approval he may remove the chiefs of several bureaus.
SECTION 4. Chapter 132A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 1D, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
The bureau of forest fire control shall perform such duties as the state fire warden, with the approval of the commissioner, may require, in addition to such other duties as required by any general or special law. The state fire warden shall report directly to the commissioner and shall have direct oversight and control over such bureau.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a special commission is hereby established to investigate and study the transfer of the bureau of forest fire control under the department of conservation and recreation to the department of fire services. Said commission shall also consider the transfer of all personnel, equipment and all other related assets of said bureau to the department of fire services and all other relatives matters that may come before said commission.
Said commission shall report the findings to both the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means no later than October 25, 2007.
Said commission shall consist of: 2 members of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, 2 members of both the House of Representatives and Senate, 2 District Fire Warden, 2 District Fire Patrolman, 2 members of the Department of Fire Services, and 1 member of the Massachusetts Forest Fire Council.
Said commission shall meet for a period of time to effectuate the purpose of this act.